Argentina Corn Exports Head for Record as North Africa Buys More

Argentina's corn exports are expected to reach a record 10 million metric tons across August and September, according to Reuters, far above the roughly three million tons normally shipped in the two month period. The surge is supported by a 2025 and 2026 harvest estimated at 71.7 million tons.

North Africa has become a major source of additional demand. Argentine shipments to the region rose 45 percent in the first seven months of 2026 to 6.5 million tons. Morocco's purchases increased 133 percent to 1.55 million tons, Egypt's rose 48 percent to 2.4 million tons and Algeria's increased 10 percent to 2.4 million tons.

Global supply routes are being redrawn

The shift reflects more than Argentina's crop size. Disruptions affecting Ukrainian export infrastructure and difficult transport conditions in Europe have pushed buyers toward alternatives, while Brazil has been using more corn domestically as its ethanol industry expands.

Those changes improve Argentina's ability to compete in destinations where freight, reliability and available volume can matter as much as the headline futures price. A larger harvest gives exporters the physical supply to respond when another origin becomes constrained.

For feed buyers around the Mediterranean, the result is a broader sourcing map and potentially stronger commercial ties with Argentine suppliers.

Image: USDA, public domain.