Ethyl alcohol market in Argentina

Earlier Report Observations

The Argentine ethyl alcohol market grew from 229.6 million liters in 2018 to a peak of 336.3 million liters in 2020. This expansion was primarily driven by increased production for biofuels, overseen by the National Wine Institute (INV), and was further amplified in 2020 by the indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which boosted demand for alcohol-based disinfectants.

Following the 2020 high, market volume contracted sharply to 164.1 million liters in 2022, with production falling from 353.5 million liters to 186.2 million liters over the same period.

A modest recovery to 177.1 million liters occurred in 2023, coinciding with regulatory updates including Resolution 26/2023, which set new specifications for anhydrous denatured ethyl alcohol in biofuels, and Law 24.788, which banned promotional events involving the ingestion of denatured alcohols.

Production ethyl alcohol in Argentina

In kind, 2017-2020, M l

Argentina ranked 13th globally in ethyl alcohol production between 2017 and 2020.

Top producers of ethyl alcohol, 2017-2020

World map of production of ethyl alcohol, 2017-2020

Argentina's ethyl alcohol production grew for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 353.5 million liters, marking a 44.4% increase from 2019. Over the 2017–2020 period, production rose by 19.4%, averaging an annual growth rate of 6.1%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 210.1 million liters, which represented a 29.1% decline from the previous year.

Annual dynamics of production in Argentina in kind, 2017-2020, M l

Exports ethyl alcohol from Argentina

Exports in kind, K l

Argentina's ethyl alcohol exports expanded for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country exported 19,784 thousand liters, up 38.7% from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 21.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 6.8%. The lowest export volume was in 2018 at 9,119 thousand liters, a 43.8% drop from 2017. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with exports surging by 56.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in kind, 2017-2020, K l

Between 2017 and 2020, Chile was the primary destination for Argentina's ethyl alcohol exports, accounting for 71.7% of total export volume, while other markets played a much smaller role.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Argentina in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed significant volatility during this period. Exports in value terms reached their lowest point in 2018 at 6,693 thousand US dollars, then peaked in 2019 at 13,965 thousand US dollars—a 2.1-fold difference. In 2020, ethyl alcohol shipments from Argentina totaled 13,376 thousand US dollars, a modest decline of 4.2% from 2019. The largest decrease was in 2018, falling by 49.4%, while the largest increase was in 2019, jumping by 108.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Chile and the United States were the leading buyers of Argentine ethyl alcohol in value terms, together accounting for 86.5% of total exports, with other destinations each holding relatively minor shares.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Argentina in value, 2017-2020

Imports ethyl alcohol to Argentina

Imports in kind, K l

The data shows irregular fluctuations, reflecting a volatile market. Import volumes peaked in 2018 at 28,619 thousand liters, then fell to their lowest in 2020 at 2,586 thousand liters—an 11.1-fold difference. In 2020, imports decreased by 18.1% compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 89.0%, while the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 67.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2017-2020, K l

Between 2017 and 2020, Bolivia was the main source of ethyl alcohol imports to Argentina, making up 83.9% of total import volume, with other origins contributing much less.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout the period. Import values hit their highest in 2018 at 16,389 thousand US dollars and their lowest in 2020 at 1,972 thousand US dollars—an 8.3-fold difference. In 2020, imports fell by 18.4% from the previous year. The largest decrease was in 2019, down by 85.3%, while the largest increase was in 2018, up by 69.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Bolivia accounted for 76.2% of Argentina's ethyl alcohol imports in value terms, with the remainder distributed among a diverse group of smaller countries.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Argentina in value, 2017-2020