- The value of Argentina’s agri-food exports to the EU rose by 21 percent compared with the average for 2023–2025.
- For products covered by tariff reductions, the increase reached 44 percent.
- Beef exports rose by 50 percent, fish by 93 percent, and citrus fruits by 59 percent.
Argentina is significantly increasing sales to the EU
Since 1 May 2026, the trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries has been applied provisionally. One of its first effects is a marked increase in Argentina’s agri-food exports to the EU market.
According to data from Argentina’s Ministry of Economy and Secretariat of Agriculture, from 1 May to 31 August, the value of agro-industrial exports to the EU amounted to approximately 1,922 billion dollars. This is 21 percent higher than the average for the same four months in 2023–2025.
Sales rose even more sharply for products that benefited directly from the tariff reductions provided for in the agreement. In their case, growth reached 44 percent, equivalent to an additional 372 million dollars in exports compared with the average for the previous three years.
Beef +50 percent, fish +93 percent.
The largest increases concern several key product groups. According to data from Argentina’s Ministry of Agriculture, exports of fish products to the EU rose by 93 percent, citrus fruit by 59 percent, and beef-sector products by 50 percent. Shipments of tobacco, apiculture products, sheep products, animal feed, and food ingredients also increased significantly.
The increase in beef deliveries is particularly significant for European livestock farmers. The EU market is one of the most important destinations for Argentina’s cattle sector, and after the agreement entered into force, access to it became more favorable in terms of tariffs for some products.
For European producers, however, this means greater competitive pressure. It may be felt particularly strongly where domestic livestock farmers were already struggling with high production costs and narrow margins.
Brazil loses ground in the market, Argentina gains
Argentina may also have benefited from the weakened position of one of its biggest competitors, Brazil. In recent weeks, Brazilian exports of certain products of animal origin to the EU have been restricted due to problems meeting EU requirements concerning the use of antimicrobial agents and the control system.
In practice, this means that a gap has emerged in part of the market, which Argentine exporters may try to fill.
This does not mean, however, that the entire increase in Argentine beef can be attributed solely to the Mercosur agreement. Sales value is also influenced by higher global prices and a recovery in production following earlier weather-related problems.
Export growth is not due to Mercosur alone
When comparing this year’s results with the period 2023–2025, it is important to remember that 2023 was an exceptionally poor year for Argentina because of a severe drought. Production recovered in the following years, and 2025 saw record export volumes in some agro-industrial segments.
Argentina’s authorities also contributed to export growth by deciding to lower or temporarily eliminate some export duties, which improved the competitiveness of local producers. The EU–Mercosur agreement is therefore one important factor behind the growth, but not the only one.
Soybean meal was already duty-free
A good example is soybean meal, which remains one of Argentina’s most important export products. However, it could already be sold to the European Union duty-free, so the agreement’s entry into force did not directly change the tariff conditions for this product.
This also explains why total agro-industrial export growth amounted to 21 percent, while growth for product groups covered by the new tariff reductions reached as much as 44 percent.
The EU is one of Argentina’s most important markets
The European Union remains one of the key destinations for Argentine food products. In 2025, the EU was the second-largest destination for Argentine agro-industrial products after China, generating more than 6 billion dollars in exports. For many sectors—including soybeans, fish, peanuts, citrus fruits, rice, tobacco, sheep products and some food products—the EU market is among the most important sales destinations.
The first months of the agreement’s implementation therefore show that Argentine exporters are making very rapid use of easier access to the EU market. For European farmers, particularly beef producers, this means increasing competition from South American farms.