Crude Oil Surpasses Corn and Soy as Argentina's Top Export

Argentina's crude oil exports have surpassed traditional agricultural products to become the country's top export. According to data from the national statistics agency INDEC, crude oil generated $4.7 billion in export revenue between January and June 2026, a 47.7% year-over-year increase from $3.2 billion in the same period last year.

The Vaca Muerta oil and gas field in Patagonia has driven the growth of unconventional energy production in Argentina, with crude oil accounting for 9.5% of the country's total exports in the first half of the year.

Crude oil dominated Argentina's energy exports, making up 71.2% of the sector's foreign sales, followed by gasoline and liquefied butane. Energy exports reached $6.5 billion in the first half of the year, a 42.5% increase from the same period in 2025.

The Neuquén shale formation has become one of Argentina's main sources of foreign currency, with the VMOS pipeline expected to drive further export growth by connecting the Neuquén Basin with the Atlantic coast in Río Negro.