Argentina: Merchandise exports surge in December
Merchandise exports jumped 85.9% over the same month last year in December, following November’s 37.6% increase. The print was driven by skyrocketing foreign sales of agricultural and primary products as well as by strong expansions in exports of energy and industrial goods. In terms of export markets, December’s print mainly resulted from surging overseas shipments to Brazil, Chile, China, India, the U.S. and Vietnam. Meanwhile, merchandise imports climbed 59.1% in annual terms in December (November: +40.1% yoy).
As a result, the merchandise trade balance remained unchanged from the previous month, recording a USD 0.4 billion surplus in December (November 2021: USD 0.4 billion surplus; December 2020: USD 0.4 billion deficit). Lastly, the trend improved, with the 12-month trailing merchandise trade balance recording a USD 14.8 billion surplus in December, compared to the USD 14.0 billion surplus in November.