Argentine goods exports totaled US$ 8,226 million in May, the second highest value for that month since 2013, with a year-on-year growth of 20.7%, thus consolidating the record levels that have been recorded in the year.
Likewise, for the first time, in two consecutive months (April and May), Argentine exports exceeded US$ 8,000 million, highlighted from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Indec), all major export items grew in May, but manufactures of agricultural origin (MOA) stood out, with an increase of 29.4% in value; and fuels and energy.
Meanwhile, manufactures of industrial origin (MOI) registered their highest exports for the month of May, since the maximum reached in 2014.
In the first five months of the year, exports amounted to US$ 35,917 million, which represented a record level; and, in the year-on-year comparison, they grew 26.6% compared to the same period in 2021 and exceeded the previous record of January-May 2013 by 13%, with prices at all-time highs.
In that period, the main export markets were Brazil (12.8%), the United States (7.4%), Chile (6.2%), China (6.2%) and India (5.8%).
Meanwhile, imports in May totaled US$ 7,870 million, with a year-on-year growth of 53.1%, a historical maximum due to the increase in international fuel and energy prices.
The increase in this item added US$ 1,111 million to the total imported in May, which explains 41% of the increase, more than tripling the value of May 2021; with an increase in prices of 115.5%, in historical maximums, and 51.3% in quantities.
Meanwhile, imports of intermediate goods had an increase of 30.9% in prices that exceeded quantities (3.7%) and added an additional US$760 million compared to the same period last year; among them, manure and fertilizers, which more than doubled their values.
Intermediate goods, together with fuels and lubricants, explained 70% of the total increase in imports in May.
On the other hand, purchases of capital goods grew 40%, with a rise of 39.1% in quantities, as well as its parts and pieces, which grew 37% in value and 36% in quantities.
The main countries of origin of imports during the first five months of 2022 were China (21.6%), Brazil (19.1%), the United States (11.2%), Germany (3.5%) and Paraguay (3%).
Thus, the trade balance for May resulted in a surplus of US$ 356 million and accumulated 17 consecutive months of surplus; and, during the first five months of the year, the positive result totals US$ 3,196 million.
