Argentina's agroexport sector commended the progress made in 2025 under President Javier Milei's government, highlighting macroeconomic stabilization, predictability in exchange rates and inflation, and reductions in grain export duties. Gustavo Idígoras, head of CIARA and CEC, foresaw a more stable policy for 2026 benefiting agriculture. These steps produced positive signs amid a year of intense changes.
Gustavo Idígoras, president of the Argentine Oilseed Industry Chamber (CIARA) and the Cereals Exporters Center (CEC), highlighted the Javier Milei government's efforts in 2025 to streamline the macroeconomy, vital for the agricultural sector. In an interview on the Nuestra Tierra program on Radio Perfil, Idígoras called the year "extremely active and changing," yet with positive variables like relatively favorable exchange rates and inflation.
On export duties, Idígoras noted that reductions began with temporary cuts from January to June 30. Following Milei's appearance at the Rural fair, they became permanent. In October, a zero-duty regime was introduced, followed by further decreases for soy, corn, wheat, barley, and sunflower. "Export duties are a long highway that needs to keep being paved downward," he stated.
For 2026, the sector anticipates greater stability, with predictable exchange rates and inflation per the Central Bank's roadmap. Idígoras also addressed international challenges, such as rapid changes in European deforestation regulations, the postponement of the EU-Mercosur deal to January 2026 due to protests, and uncertainty from Donald Trump's tariff war. These forced Argentine companies to negotiate daily with buyers in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, where U.S. positions aim to displace Argentine and Brazilian products. China's role in the Argentine market gains importance in this scenario.
