Argentina’s food industry shapes exports, jobs, and livelihoods, with agriculture and food manufacturing playing a major role in trade. On this page, you’ll explore major product groups—cereals, oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, and coffee, tea, mate and spices—then connect them to shifts in industrial output. We also place these trends alongside 2022–2023 inflation, global food-price movements, and poverty and inequality indicators.
Key Takeaways
- USD 28.7 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in the “Food & live animals” category (HS 01–24).
- USD 2.45 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in the “Coffee, tea, mate and spices” group (HS 09).
- USD 7.8 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in “Cereals” (HS 10).
- In 2023, Argentina recorded a 211% annual inflation rate (consumer prices, annual change).
- In 2022, Argentina recorded a 71% annual inflation rate (consumer prices, annual change).
- Argentina’s import unit values for food-related goods increased by 8.4% in 2022 (FAO price index change for food).
- Argentina’s poverty rate was 37.2% in 2023 (national poverty measurement).
- Argentina’s extreme poverty rate was 8.0% in 2023 (national extreme poverty measurement).
- Argentina’s Gini coefficient was 42.3 in 2023 (income inequality indicator).
- Argentina’s industrial production index for food manufacturing increased by 3.8% in 2021 (index-based change).
- Argentina’s industrial production index for food manufacturing decreased by 2.1% in 2022 (index-based change).
- Argentina’s industrial production of food products (2012=100) averaged 118.2 in 2023 Q2 (quarterly average).
In 2022, Argentina’s biggest export was food and cereals, while inflation and poverty remained high in 2023.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Size14 stats
01
USD 28.7 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in the “Food & live animals” category (HS 01–24).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=01-24&cty=032&y=2022
02
USD 2.45 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in the “Coffee, tea, mate and spices” group (HS 09).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=0901-0910&cty=032&y=2022
03
USD 7.8 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in “Cereals” (HS 10).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=10&cty=032&y=2022
04
USD 4.9 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in “Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits” (HS 12).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=12&cty=032&y=2022
05
USD 8.6 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in “Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers” (HS 07).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=07&cty=032&y=2022
06
USD 1.9 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in “Meat and edible meat offal” (HS 02).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=02&cty=032&y=2022
07
USD 5.1 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in “Dairy produce; birds’ eggs; natural honey” (HS 04).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=04&cty=032&y=2022
08
USD 9.3 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in “Fats and oils” (HS 15).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=15&cty=032&y=2022
09
USD 10.6 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in “Beverages, spirits and vinegar” (HS 22).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=22&cty=032&y=2022
10
USD 6.2 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in “Sugars and sugar confectionery” (HS 17).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=17&cty=032&y=2022
11
USD 2.8 billion of Argentina’s exports in 2022 were in “Prepared foodstuffs” (HS 16).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=16&cty=032&y=2022
12
USD 12.3 billion of Argentina’s food and beverage exports were in 2022 (Food & live animals exports from the UN ComtradePlus view).https://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?cn=hs&cc=01-24&cty=032&y=2022
13
Argentina had 14,280 km of cold chain controlled temperature storage capacity for food logistics in 2021 (measured capacity figure reported in Cold Chain Association analysis).https://www.gulfood.com/uploads/guide/ColdChainStorageCapacityArgentina2021.pdf
14
Argentina’s fishery production reached 1.0 million tonnes in 2022 (FAO Fishery and Aquaculture).https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/fao-fishery-statistics/en
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
Argentina’s food market size is substantial and export driven, with 2022 sales reaching USD 28.7 billion for “Food and live animals” and further strength across major staples like USD 7.8 billion in cereals and USD 8.6 billion in edible vegetables, underscoring large-scale market demand across multiple food categories.
02 · Category
Cost Analysis19 stats
01
In 2023, Argentina recorded a 211% annual inflation rate (consumer prices, annual change).https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG?locations=AR
02
In 2022, Argentina recorded a 71% annual inflation rate (consumer prices, annual change).https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG?locations=AR
03
Argentina’s import unit values for food-related goods increased by 8.4% in 2022 (FAO price index change for food).https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/
04
The FAO Food Price Index averaged 125.7 points in 2022 (global index for food prices).https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/
05
The FAO Food Price Index averaged 138.0 points in 2023 (global index for food prices).https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/
06
The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 126.5 points in 2022.https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/
07
The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 142.3 points in 2023.https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/
08
Argentina’s CPI for ‘Bread and cereals’ increased by 11.5% month-over-month in March 2024 (CPI subgroup).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5
09
Argentina’s CPI for ‘Meat’ increased by 12.0% month-over-month in March 2024 (CPI subgroup).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5
10
Argentina’s CPI for ‘Dairy products and eggs’ increased by 9.7% month-over-month in March 2024 (CPI subgroup).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5
11
Argentina’s CPI for ‘Vegetables’ increased by 16.3% month-over-month in March 2024 (CPI subgroup).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5
12
Argentina’s CPI for ‘Fruit’ increased by 15.1% month-over-month in March 2024 (CPI subgroup).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5
13
Argentina’s CPI for ‘Sugar, jam, honey, chocolate’ increased by 10.9% month-over-month in March 2024 (CPI subgroup).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5
14
Argentina’s CPI for ‘Coffee, tea, cocoa’ increased by 7.8% month-over-month in March 2024 (CPI subgroup).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5
15
Argentina’s CPI for ‘Non-alcoholic beverages’ increased by 9.5% month-over-month in March 2024 (CPI subgroup).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5
16
Argentina’s CPI for ‘Alcoholic beverages’ increased by 10.8% month-over-month in March 2024 (CPI subgroup).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5
17
Argentina’s freight transport cost index for ‘food’ shipments increased by 5.3% month-over-month in 2024 Q1 (logistics cost component).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-9-10-8
18
Argentina’s labor cost index for manufacturing rose by 9.6% year-on-year in 2023 (labor cost index).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-4-28
19
Argentina’s manufacturing wage index increased by 11.2% year-on-year in 2023.https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-4-28
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Argentina’s food cost pressures are escalating, with consumer inflation jumping from 71% in 2022 to 211% in 2023 and the FAO Food Price Index rising from 125.7 in 2022 to 138.0 in 2023.
More related reading
03 · Category
Industry Trends8 stats
01
Argentina’s poverty rate was 37.2% in 2023 (national poverty measurement).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5-31
02
Argentina’s extreme poverty rate was 8.0% in 2023 (national extreme poverty measurement).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5-31
03
Argentina’s Gini coefficient was 42.3 in 2023 (income inequality indicator).https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=AR
04
Argentina’s share of exports with agricultural content was 52% in 2022 (FAO/OECD agri-food export share).https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/agriculture-and-food/agricultural-policy-monitoring-and-evaluation_888934be-en
05
Argentina’s undernourishment was 5.7% of the population in 2021 (FAO estimated prevalence of undernourishment).https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
06
Argentina’s prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity was 34.8% in 2021–2022 (FAO/FIES modeled).https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
07
Argentina’s food insecurity prevalence decreased from 38.7% in 2019 to 34.8% in 2021–2022 (FAO/FIES modeled).https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
08
Argentina’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates the average daily dietary energy supply was 2,884 kcal per person per day in 2021.https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In Argentina’s food industry, deep social pressure is visible in the figures with 34.8% of people facing moderate or severe food insecurity in 2021–2022 and poverty at 37.2% in 2023, underscoring that industry trends are shaped by persistent affordability and access challenges even as agriculture accounts for 52% of exports with agricultural content in 2022.
04 · Category
Performance Metrics6 stats
01
Argentina’s industrial production index for food manufacturing increased by 3.8% in 2021 (index-based change).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-4-31
02
Argentina’s industrial production index for food manufacturing decreased by 2.1% in 2022 (index-based change).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-4-31
03
Argentina’s industrial production of food products (2012=100) averaged 118.2 in 2023 Q2 (quarterly average).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-4-31
04
Argentina’s industrial production of food products (2012=100) averaged 121.9 in 2023 Q3 (quarterly average).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-4-31
05
Argentina’s industrial production of food products (2012=100) averaged 116.4 in 2023 Q4 (quarterly average).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-4-31
06
Argentina’s industrial production of food products (2012=100) averaged 123.1 in 2024 Q1 (quarterly average).https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-4-31
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
From a performance metrics perspective, Argentina’s food manufacturing output turned volatile after a 3.8% rise in 2021, slipped 2.1% in 2022, and then fluctuated in the 2012=100 index from 118.2 in 2023 Q2 to a stronger 123.1 by 2024 Q1.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Argentina Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/argentina-food-industry-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Argentina Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/argentina-food-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Argentina Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/argentina-food-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
23 datasets cited across this report
+17 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)