Argentine mining exports reached a new all-time record in the first quarter of 2026, with foreign sales of $2,409 million between January and March. The figure marks a year-on-year growth of 81.6% and places the sector 158.1% above the average recorded for the first quarter
since 2010.
The jump confirms the progress of a key activity for foreign exchange income, productive investment and the development of provinces with mining potential. In a context in which Argentina seeks to organize its economy and recover competitiveness, mining appears to be one of the sectors with the greatest capacity to expand genuine exports
. Mining exports break records.
According to the latest monthly mining export report, the sector generated $830 million in March alone, 70.9% more than in the same month of 2025. With this performance, mining represented 11.2% of total Argentine exports in the cumulative of the year
.
The main driver of growth were metalliferous minerals, which accounted for 80% of total exports in value during the quarter. This segment registered a year-on-year increase of 77%, driven mainly by gold and silver
.
In March, metalliferous minerals contributed $635 million, equivalent to 76.5% of mining exports for the month. Gold remained the most important product, with sales of $532 million and a year-on-year increase of 51.8%, explained both by better international prices and an increase in export volumes
. Argentina is taking off its mining potential.
Silver also performed strongly, with exports of $91 million in March and a year-on-year jump of 137.4%. Meanwhile, copper and other minerals brought in another $12 million during the month. In the quarterly cumulative period, metalliferous minerals totaled US$1.919 million. Within that total, gold represented 65% of Argentine mining exports, while silver accounted for 13%
.
Lithium once again confirmed its strategic place in the export matrix. In March, foreign sales reached US $182 million, with a year-on-year growth of 134.3%, which was an all-time record for that month. In the first quarter, lithium exports totaled US $456 million, 124.6% more than
in 2025.
In addition to the increase in values, the sector showed strong growth in quantities exported. In the quarter, lithium shipments abroad rose 52.3% year-on-year, a key figure for measuring the real expansion of activity beyond the price effect
. The export boom is beginning to be a reality.
Growth was also seen in the main destination markets. Among the biggest year-on-year jumps were India, with an increase of 551%; China, with 176%; Germany, with 174%; the United States, with 113%; South Korea, with 101%; and Canada, with
100%.
Switzerland, China, the United States and Canada accounted for 87% of mining exports in March, mainly due to demand for metalliferous minerals. Other important destinations were India, South Korea, Germany, Finland and Bulgaria.
