Argentina's trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 1.402 millions, which implies USD 473 million less than the same month in 2024, although it was the twenty-first consecutive month with a positive result.
Total trade (exports plus imports) amounted to USD 14.327 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 23,1%, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC) reported this Thursday (09/18/2025).
Exports
In detail, exports reached $7.865 million, with a year-on-year increase of 16,4%, driven by higher export volumes (+15,3%) and a slight increase in international prices (+0,9%).
Within the main itemsThe most notable increases were in primary products (+35,7%), agricultural manufactures (+18,1%), and fuels and energy (+40,6%), all driven primarily by sales volumes, which increased by +29,0%, +18,5%, and +58,6%, respectively. In contrast, industrial manufactures fell by -7,0%, due to a drop in volumes sold abroad (-8,6%), despite a slight improvement in prices (+1,7%).
As for destinations In terms of exports, there were strong increases to China (+108,2%), as well as to the European Union (+7,1%), the United States (+20,1%), Chile (+26,0%), India (+29,1%), and the Middle East (+34,2%). In contrast, external sales to Brazil (the country's main trading partner) contracted by 1,6%.
Imports
Meanwhile, imports totaled $6.463 million, which represented a year-on-year increase of 32,4%. This growth was explained by a sharp increase in imported quantities (+43,3%), while the prices of goods purchased abroad fell by 7,3%.
Respect for the economic usesImport values grew, driven by passenger motor vehicles (+155,6%), capital goods (+75,8%), and consumer goods (+65,5%). In contrast, imports of fuels and lubricants registered a 38,4% drop in value. In terms of quantities, the increases in motor vehicles (+165,6%), capital goods (+67,4%), and consumer goods (+71,9%) were notable. In contrast, the quantities of fuels and lubricants decreased by 24,1%.
Regarding the main ones origins, purchases increased from Brazil (+43,9%), MERCOSUR as a whole (+33,8%), China (+71,6%), the United States (+17,3%), Chile (+9,3%) and the European Union (+6,3%).
8 months
In cumulative terms, in the first eight months of the year, Argentina accumulated a trade surplus of USD 5.071 billion, with exports totaling USD 55.367 billion and imports totaling USD 50.296 billion. This dynamic continues the positive trend from the previous year, when the country closed 2024 with a historic surplus of USD 18.928 billion, after reversing the USD 6.925 billion deficit recorded in 2023.
In summary, Argentine foreign trade maintains a sustained surplus, driven by agro-industrial and energy exports, even in a context of relatively stable international prices; while the increase in imports reflects a more dynamic domestic economy, albeit with challenges for the trade balance and productive diversification.
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