The amount represents a year-on-year increase of 67.5% and is equivalent to 88% of the mining exports recorded during all of 2025. Lithium increased its share of the sector’s exports and reached US$1.126 billion during the first half of the year.
By Panorama Minero
Argentina’s mining exports reached US$5.36 billion between January and July 2026, according to the September Mining Monitor prepared by INVECQ. The amount represents growth of 67.5% compared with the same period of 2025 and is equivalent to 88% of the total exported by the sector during all of last year.
The result reflected different performances among the main minerals. Gold continues to account for the largest share of exports, while lithium increased its weight within the sector’s export structure.
Lithium Increases Its Share
Lithium recorded an expansion in both production and exports during the period analyzed. Lithium carbonate production increased 45% year-on-year, while the quantities exported during January-July grew 64% compared with the same period of 2025.
In value terms, lithium exports increased 194% year-on-year during the first seven months of the year. In this way, the mineral came to represent 24% of the country’s mining exports, compared with the 15% recorded in 2025.
The report also indicates that there are 7 projects in production and 4 under construction, distributed across Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca.
Lithium growth was also reflected in the overall structure of Argentina’s exports. During the first half of 2026, the lithium complex reached US$1.126 billion, with year-on-year growth of 186.3%, and represented 2.3% of the country’s total exports. With this result, it ranked tenth among Argentina’s export complexes.
The growth in lithium exports occurred despite the price correction recorded during 2026. The report indicates that, although the average value of lithium carbonate in September stood at US$18,100 per tonne (90% above the 2025 average), a downward trend has been observed since the middle of the year. The latest values recorded were US$18,050 per tonne on September 11 and US$17,350 on September 18.
Gold and Silver Maintain the Largest Share
Gold continues to be Argentina’s main exported mineral. Between January and July 2026, it accounted for 60% of mining exports, while lithium consolidated its position as the second most exported mineral.
In the case of gold and silver, the increase in exports was associated with the performance of international prices. However, the quantities exported during January-July recorded a year-on-year decline of 22.9% for gold and 1.1% for silver.
At the level of export complexes, gold and silver reached US$3.504 billion during the first half of 2026, 56.8% more than in the same period of the previous year. The amount represented 7.1% of Argentina’s total exports and constituted a record for the series considered in the report.
Different Trends in Production
Activity data show different trends between lithium and metalliferous mining. In July, lithium carbonate production stood 45% above the same month of 2025 and 76.9% above the average for the months between 2022 and 2025.
The extraction of metalliferous minerals, on the other hand, showed a more moderate trend. For this category, which includes silver, gold, concentrates, doré bullion and other metalliferous minerals, the report records a decline of 11% compared with the average for the 2022-2025 period.
Greater Share of Argentina’s Exports
During the first seven months of 2026, mining exports represented 9.2% of the country’s total exports, compared with the 7% recorded during 2025.
In terms of foreign currency, the sector recorded a positive foreign exchange balance of US$5.576 billion during the first seven months of the year. In June, the mining trade balance reached US$648 million and accumulated US$4.265 billion during the first six months of 2026.
