Frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize market in Argentina

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, the Argentine frozen vegetable market reached 5,141 t, but over the next two years it contracted to 4,251 t by 2020. This decline coincided with tightened food safety controls following a listeriosis outbreak in imported frozen vegetables, which led to product recalls and enhanced monitoring. The introduction of mandatory HACCP systems for frozen vegetable producers in 2020 required processing facilities to invest in safety management, likely temporarily constraining supply.

After a brief recovery to 4,926 t in 2021, the market entered a second phase of contraction, falling to 3,161 t by 2023. This followed the implementation of front-of-pack labeling legislation, which from 2022 obligated producers to place black octagonal warnings on products high in critical nutrients. The labeling rules, further tightened in 2023 when nutrient calculation was limited to added components only, altered product classification and likely affected consumer demand, especially for items with additives.

Throughout the period, domestic production of frozen vegetables remained relatively stable at around 1,600–1,700 t per year, while imports, which had exceeded 3,000 t earlier, declined to 2,935 t by 2023. Simultaneously, exports grew from zero in 2018 to 1,444 t in 2023, indicating a partial reorientation of output toward foreign markets. Ongoing regulatory updates, including reinforced HACCP requirements and new labeling rules for imported goods in 2024, continued to shape the operating environment for market participants.

Production frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize in Argentina

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize, 2017-2020

World map of production of frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize, 2017-2020

After a two-year decline, Argentina's production of frozen vegetables (excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize) increased. In 2020, the country produced 1 679 tonnes, marking a 2.2% rise from the previous year. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 6.4%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 2.2%. The lowest output was recorded in 2019 at 1 642 tonnes, while the sharpest drop occurred in 2018 with a 5.4% decline.

Annual dynamics of production in Argentina in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize from Argentina

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Argentina in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Canada, the United States, and Brazil were the dominant markets for Argentina's exports of frozen vegetables (excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize) in volume terms. Canada accounted for 42.1% of exports, the United States for 28.3%, and Brazil for 20.3%. Together, these three countries represented 90.7% of total export flows.

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

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Canada, the United States, and Brazil emerged as the primary destinations for Argentina's exports of frozen vegetables (excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize) in value terms. Canada held a 41.0% share, the United States 28.9%, and Brazil 22.8%. Collectively, they made up 92.8% of total export value.

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

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

Imports frozen vegetables excluding potatoes, legumes and maize to Argentina

Imports in kind, t

Argentina's imports of frozen vegetables (excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize) fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 2 572 tonnes, a modest 4.2% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports dropped by 14.7%, averaging an annual decline of 5.2%. The peak was in 2018 at 3 445 tonnes, followed by the largest drop in 2019 of 22.0%. The biggest increase occurred in 2018 with a 14.3% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Belgium and Spain were the main sources for Argentina's imports of frozen vegetables (excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize) in volume terms. Together, they accounted for 89.4% of total import flows, while other partners individually played much smaller roles.

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

In 2020, Argentina's imports of frozen vegetables (excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize) in value terms reached 2 658 thousand US dollars, showing a slight increase of 1.4% from the previous year. However, over the 2017–2020 span, imports declined by 10.1%, with an average annual rate of decrease of 3.5%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 2 621 thousand US dollars, and the highest was in 2018 at 3 574 thousand US dollars. The most significant decline happened in 2019 with a 26.7% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 with a 20.8% rise.

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

During 2017–2020, Belgium and Spain together represented 87.8% of Argentina's total imports of frozen vegetables (excluding potatoes, legumes, and maize) in value terms. Other countries contributed to a diverse but less substantial portion of the import market.

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

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