Agricultural recovery boosted trade of agrochemicals in Argentina

The imports and exports of agricultural chemicals in Argentina were boosted in the first five months of 2013, according to a report published by a consulting company, IES. Imports grew 42.4% in value to nearly $780 million and 21.2% in amounts compared with the same period of last year. The growth was driven by the recovery in Argentine domestic demand for agricultural products and by the easing of regulation restrictions, stressed in the report. In the meantime, agrochemical exports expanded 32.9% in value to $226 million, compared to the first five months of 2012.

Imports of herbicide glyphosate increased by 61.8% and growth for glyphosate-based formulations even higher, reached 69.4%. Imports of fertilizers rose by 14% led by the compounds and phosphate.

The increase of agrochemicals exports, the report said, was focused on the expansion of the prices with 31%, and volumes just rose slightly by 1.5%. Glyphosate exports were improved by 82.1% to $94.4 million, followed by rodenticides (up 30.8% to $65 million) and disinfectants.

Overall increases offset a fall of 13.1% in nitrogen fertilizers, with only $37.8 million. The consumption of nitrogen fertilizer in the first five months was at 531.8 thousand tonnes at a level almost similar to the same period in 2012. “Fertilizer exports were affected by lower demand for wheat production and the low level of fertilization” concludes IES.