August 10, 2007

Grain companies lead Argentine exports in first half

Commodity companies dominated Argentine exports during the first half of 2007, with the local unit of US based grain exporter Cargill Inc. topping the list, a company spokesman said Thursday.

Cargill shipped US$1.73 billion worth of grains and byproducts during the first six months of the year, according to local daily La Nacion. The company confirmed the report's accuracy.

"Cargill is traditionally the first or second-largest exporter in the country," the spokesman said.

The second-largest exporter was Bunge Argentina, which shipped US$1.2 billion worth of grains and byproducts. Spanish-Argentine petroleum company Repsol YPF came in third with US$903 million, followed by Xstrata PLC's Minera La Alumbrera copper mine with US$898 million.

The list of top exporters was rounded out by other grain exporters, including LDC Argentina, Aceitera General Dejeza, Nidera, Vicentin and Molinos Rio de la Plata.