Market research

Molasses market in Argentina

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

Earlier Report Observations

The molasses market in Argentina began the period with stable volumes around 575 thousand tons in 2018 and 2019. During these years, the sugar industry operated under significant government intervention aimed at boosting competitiveness, supported by import tariffs that protected local production. Molasses, a by-product of sugar refining, was primarily directed toward ethyl alcohol production and as an animal feed supplement, within a vertically integrated industrial structure.

Market volume rose to 600 thousand tons in 2020, driven by an increase in overall sugar production, which stabilized above 2 million tons annually. This higher sugar output led to greater molasses availability, coinciding with the consolidation of ethanol production from molasses as a relevant energy and environmental component of the agro-industrial sector.

From 2021 onward, the market entered a downward trend, falling to 552 thousand tons in 2021, 518 thousand tons in 2022, and 500 thousand tons in 2023. The decline in 2022 was notably influenced by a sharp 78% drop in the volume of Argentine raw cane sugar exports compared to the previous year. This contraction in sugar exports reduced sugar processing activity, directly decreasing molasses output as a by-product.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Argentina
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Argentina in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Argentina in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Trade balance
1. 7.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.2.2. In value, K $ US
8. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 8.1. Direct Data
  1. 8.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 8.2. Mirror Data
  1. 8.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production molasses in Argentina

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Globally, Argentina ranked as the 19th largest producer of molasses between 2017 and 2020.

Top producers of molasses, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of molasses, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Argentina produced 600.0 K t of molasses, representing a modest 4.3% increase from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 3.4%, which translates to an annualized rate of 1.1%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 575.0 K t, with the largest decline occurring that same year at 0.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.9%)	-	4.3%	1.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports molasses from Argentina

Exports in kind, t

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the primary destinations for Argentina's molasses exports in kind were Paraguay, accounting for 47.4% of exports, Uruguay with 25.0%, and the United States at 17.4%. Together, these three countries represented 89.9% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States and Paraguay were the key markets for Argentina's molasses exports in value terms, jointly making up 81.8% of total flows, while other destinations held relatively smaller shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports molasses to Argentina

Imports in kind, t

The market exhibited significant volatility during these years. Imports reached their highest point in 2018 at 48 t and dropped to their lowest in 2020 at 14 t, resulting in a 3.5-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Argentina imported 14 t of molasses, marking a sharp decline of 66.5% compared to 2019. The largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 152.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	152.3%	(15.4%)	(66.5%)	(10.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States and South Africa dominated Argentina's molasses imports in kind, together accounting for 99.6% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Market performance showed notable fluctuations over this period. Imports peaked in 2018 at 51.4 K $ US and hit a trough in 2020 at 7.0 K $ US, creating a 7.4-fold gap. In 2020, the volume of molasses imports into Argentina totaled 7.0 K $ US, reflecting a steep decrease of 71.2% from 2019. The largest increase occurred in 2018 at 144.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	144.1%	(52.9%)	(71.2%)	(30.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, Argentina's import structure in value terms was heavily concentrated on the United States, which held an 86.3% share of total flows, with other partners making up the remainder.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io