June 25, 2008

Argentina's soy export up 18 percent despite strike disruptions

Despite disruptions caused by repeated strikes by farmers, Argentina's agricultural exports actually rose sharply during the first five months of the year, according to a government report released Monday (June 24, 2008).

Soy exports from January through May totaled 3.8 million tonnes, up 18 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to the report.

Corn exports during the first five months of the year totaled 7.4 million tonnes, up 9 percent on the year, according to the government.

Sunflower seed oil exports from January through May totaled 565,000 tonnes, up 26 percent on the year.

However, wheat and beef exports slipped during the period, the report said.

Wheat exports during the period declined 6 percent to 5.14 million tonnes, and beef exports fell 14 percent to 145,000 tonnes.

A much higher level of export could have been reached had the strikes been avoided, other reports said. 

The strike was launched in mid-March, since then, exporters have shipped US$1.6 billion lesser grains, according to the Rosario Grain Exchange.

Between March 15 and June 8, trucks reaching Rosario, the nation's export hub, were half the numbers the same period last year.  The drop prevented more than 4 million tonnes of grains from reaching Rosario, the exchange said.