Argentina Reaps Record Corn Harvest Amid Ukraine Disruptions
Argentina's corn exports have surged to record-breaking levels this year, making it the world's third-largest corn exporter. The country is expected to load a record-breaking 10 million metric tons of corn between August and September combined, compared to a typical two-month volume of around 3 million tons.
The 2025/26 harvest is the largest on record, with government estimates putting it at 71.7 million tons, while the Rosario grain exchange estimates it at 70.5 million tons.
The surge in Argentine corn exports can be attributed to North African buyers turning to Argentina due to disruptions in Ukrainian corn shipments caused by Russian strikes and drought conditions on the Danube River.
Ukraine's ports have been severely impacted, with shipments sinking 52% last month alone. As a result, North African countries such as Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria have increased their imports of Argentine corn, with Morocco more than doubling its purchases and Egypt buying 48% more corn.