With a unified message, The Argentine agribusiness sector expressed its full readiness to supply products to China With food quality and safe production, But he warned that the jump depends on specific decisions in health and trade policy. The sectors reported that integration with Chinese demand is almost perfect, although Current input is marginal and conditional on prohibitive tariffs, such as the 30% ban on blueberries, and a lack of flexibility in poultry farming protocols. Progress in other aspects for some legumes, among other issues, leaves Argentina at a disadvantage compared to competitors.
Within a day China Agricultural Business DayOrganized by the Argentine Chinese Chamber, President of the Grain Exchange, Ricardo Marahighlight the connection built on it “Trust, respect and cooperation” between Argentina and China. He pointed out that trade exchange started from From 300 thousand US dollars in 1972 to 17.6 billion US dollars in 2024, Today, China is a major partner for Argentine agribusiness in sectors such as soybeans, barley, sorghum, beef and fishing. He added that Argentina imports only 3% of Chinese agricultural importsAlthough he considered that the international context provided opportunities for continued growth alongside “stable and reliable” partners.
In this context, the national food and beverage industry provided a strong diagnosis to an Asian delegation: There is complementarity between national production and Chinese demand, but the current input is marginal.
carla martin bonito, president Food Products Industries Coordinator (COBAL) Highlight that although Argentina produces “Practically everything China asks for” It maintains a sectoral trade surplus of one billion dollars, The country represents barely 3% of the Asian giant’s total food imports.
while sergio rafaeli, Representative of the Legumes Chamber at the Agricultural Industry Council (CAA), He explained the direct impact that the health agreements had. He explained that after Opening of the Pea ProtocolExports increased significantly, which represents Last year, 50% of the total was sold abroad. But the gap is huge: China has imported 18 million tons since 2017, while Argentina imported only 80,000 tons. The challenge now is to “replicate this success with other varieties such as mung beans and chickpeas,” as Argentina has the production capacity and genetic quality, but “It lacks the phytosanitary agreements needed to compete with Brazil, which is moving quickly in licensing its products.
the industry poultry Health intermittency revealed and The necessity of updating agreements with the Asian giant. In this sense, Carlos Sensi, Director of the Poultry Processing Companies Center (I feel sad), mentioned that Argentina was a pioneer in 2005, But a recent bird flu outbreak led to the market being closed for extended periods, allowing it to operate for only five months in the past three years.
Although The Argentine health system succeeds in declaring the country “disease-free” In record time after the latest incident in August, the Chinese market remained bureaucratically closed. He explained that ““The sector is urging not only reopening, but a new protocol that includes details and accepts regional structuring so that the entire country is not punished for isolated events.”
Another exhibition was associated with luxury fruits: Argentine berries face a trade barrier that puts them out of the game compared to their neighbors. Federico Paya, from the Argentine Mulberry Commission (ABC), Detailed how, after five years of healthy efforts to open up the market“Argentine exports stagnated at only 7 tons per year due to the 30% entry tariff imposed by China.” This tax burden It contrasts with the zero tariff applied by Peru and ChileWhich makes the competition futile despite the anti-season window that the Southern Hemisphere offers to supply China, which is today the largest producer of this fruit in the world.
On the other hand, the fishing sector, represented by: Eduardo Boero, President of the Chamber of Fishing and Freezer Vessel Owners of Argentina (CAPICA), It also presented a dichotomy between Abundance of resources and lack of costs. With annual exports of 2 billion US dollarsHe said that Argentine fishing is extractive and natural, ensuring excellent quality. However, for keystone species such as squid, The national product faces a duty of 19% (with the addition of local deductions and Chinese tariffs) To enter the Asian market, It competes on “unequal conditions against a long-distance water fleet that operates without those tax burdens and with much lower labor costs.”
As he has since explained The private sector asked the Chinese authorities to allow Argentine crab for “direct human consumption.”live and frozen. Currently, this is an outstanding product “Authorized only for reprocessing.” While competitors such as Chile have free access to direct consumption, allowing them to command a much higher value in the Asian market.
he The peanut sector, which is concentrated in Cordoba and expanding towards Buenos Aires and Santa Fe, is also seeking to strengthen its position in the Asian giant.. Although Argentina is the world leader in exporting high-quality peanuts, introducing them to China requires a large-scale producing and consuming market. an offer Eduardo Fracanzani, Executive Director of the Argentine Peanut Chamber (CAM) He highlighted the chain’s ability to provide value-added products, in line with the development of Chinese demand.