Dairy exports from Argentina declined significantly in January, reflecting a 22.9% decrease from the previous month, alongside a contraction in domestic sales.
In January 2026, Argentina faced a notable decline in dairy exports, with figures showing a 22.9% drop from December 2025, resulting in 38,992 tons of shipments. According to the Argentine Dairy Chain Observatory (OCLA), this decline also reflected a decrease in revenue, which fell by 22.2% to US$ 147.3 million, translating to a loss of 11,600 tons and US$ 42 million in export value compared to the previous month.
Year-on-year comparisons indicate a substantial increase in the dairy export volumes and values, with jumps of 31.8% and 26.6%, respectively. However, OCLA pointed out that this significant increase is attributed to last year's notably low export levels in January, rather than a consistent upward trend. In the first month of 2026, dairy exports represented 29.1% of total milk production, aligning with historically normal levels for this metric.
The average price per ton for dairy exports in January 2026 was recorded at US$ 3,778, which saw a 4% decrease compared to the same month in 2025. This reduction in export prices and the overall decline in both exports and domestic sales highlight ongoing challenges faced by the Argentine dairy sector, signaling potential impacts on local producers and market dynamics as prices adjust in response to lower export activity.
