Between January and June this year, Argentina’s mining exports reached US$4.742 billion. Lithium increased its share of the export basket to 23.1% of the total, while gold continued to account for the largest share of shipments.
By Panorama Minero
Argentina’s mining exports reached US$4.742 billion during the first six months of 2026, representing a 74.4% year-on-year increase and setting an all-time record for the January-June period. According to a report by the National Directorate for Mining Promotion and Economics within Argentina’s Ministry of Economy, based on Customs data, the sector accounted for 9.7% of the country’s total exports during the first half of the year.
Performance between January and June was also 154.7% above the average recorded for the same period between 2010 and 2025. By comparison, mining exports totaled US$2.719 billion during the first six months of 2025.
In June, mining exports totaled US$744 million, representing a 54.6% year-on-year increase. The sixth month of the year therefore also recorded stronger performance than in the same period of the previous year.
Lithium Gains Ground in the Export Mix
One of the main changes in the composition of mining exports was the growing contribution of lithium. During the first six months of 2026, lithium exports reached US$1.096 billion, representing a 185% year-on-year increase.
Lithium thus accounted for 23.1% of total mining exports, its highest-ever share for a first-half period. Export volumes also increased 68.2% year-on-year, showing that the increase was not driven solely by higher export values.
Growth was also reflected in the June figures. During the month, lithium exports totaled US$212 million, representing a 334.9% year-on-year increase and an all-time record for the month of June. Lithium also ranked as the second-largest mining export product.
Lithium’s growing share of the mining export basket comes alongside the addition of new projects entering production, including POSCO, in the border area between Salta and Catamarca, and Zijin-Liex, through the 3Q project in Tinogasta.
Gold Maintains Its Leading Position
Despite lithium’s growth, metalliferous minerals continue to account for the majority of Argentina’s mining exports. Between January and June, exports in this category reached US$3.559 billion, representing 58.1% year-on-year growth and 75.1% of the sector’s total exports.
Within this category, gold accounted for US$2.905 billion, equivalent to 61% of total mining exports, with year-on-year growth of 51.2%. Silver, meanwhile, recorded exports of US$562 million, an increase of 87.9% compared with the first half of 2025.
In June, metalliferous minerals represented 69.2% of mining exports for the month, totaling US$515 million. Gold accounted for US$386 million, while silver contributed US$109 million.
China and Switzerland Among the Main Export Destinations
The expansion in exports was also reflected across destination markets. During the first six months of the year, Switzerland, China, the United States and South Korea accounted for 78% of Argentina’s mining exports, totaling US$3.706 billion.
China accounted for 25% of cumulative mining exports, totaling US$1.165 billion and recording 205% year-on-year growth, while Switzerland represented 32%, with US$1.520 billion. The United States accounted for another 17%, with US$786 million, while South Korea represented 5%, with US$234 million.
