Chinese demand lifts Argentine corn export lineups to record 589,000 tonnes

Export program reaches a new high

Argentine corn scheduled for shipment to China has reached a record 589,000 tonnes, according to data released by analyst Esteban Moscariello and reported by Clarín. The figure is the largest accumulated lineup recorded for this destination and indicates that Chinese buying is becoming a material component of Argentina’s corn export program.

Market projections cited by Clarín put China’s total corn imports this year at about 3 million tonnes. Around 1 million tonnes could originate in Argentina, giving the country a potentially significant share of a Chinese import market that is also supplied by other major grain exporters. The projections remain subject to actual purchases and loadings, but the current vessel lineup provides exporters, traders and port operators with a visible near-term flow of business.

Market opening follows years of negotiations

The buildup comes only a few months after Argentina completed its first corn export to China in April. That initial cargo comprised 34,000 tonnes and was shipped by COFCO after more than a decade of negotiations and trade restrictions. Commercial access became effective after China approved imports of Argentine corn and the two countries completed phytosanitary and exporter-registration procedures that had previously constrained trade.

The new Chinese demand is adding to an already strong year for Argentine corn shipments. The Rosario Board of Trade reported that total corn exports reached 19.1 million tonnes in the first half, up 7% from the same period of 2025. That represented an additional 1.2 million tonnes year on year and placed first-half shipments 19% above their historical average. A Chinese program approaching the projected 1 million tonnes would broaden Argentina’s customer base, although suppliers will still face competition from Brazil and the United States.

Soybean sales reinforce China’s role

The renewed activity is not confined to corn. Moscariello also identified a new sale of 76,000 tonnes of soybeans to China. Argentina’s registered soybean export sales, measured through DJVE declarations, totaled 4.08 million tonnes as of July 28. These commitments will be closely watched because they affect the volume available to domestic processors as well as the commercial position of the new crop.

For Argentine producers, a sustained Chinese purchasing program could increase sales options and support local prices, as Moscariello noted. For traders and importers, however, the record lineup is an early measure of scheduled shipments rather than a guarantee that the projected annual volumes will be reached. The pace of further purchases, compliance with phytosanitary requirements and competition among Argentina, Brazil and the United States will determine whether the opening develops into a durable grain corridor.