Monthly trade report
Argentina imports: August 2026
Imports into Argentina totaled US$5.23 billion in August 2026, up 1.1% from July 2026 and up 1.7% from August 2025, according to Argentina customs (ARCA) data compiled by CargoFax.
- Imports, August 2026
- US$5.23 billion
- vs July 2026
- +1.1%
- vs August 2025
- +1.7%
Machinery imports rose 16.9% in August while medicines dropped to a low
Machinery and computers (HS 84) gave the largest increase in August 2026, rising 16.9% from July to US$870 million and nearly matching vehicles (HS 87) at US$874 million. Several machinery headings reached their highest monthly values since January 2025, when this series begins: generating sets (HS 8502) at US$86.9 million, pumps, compressors and fans (HS 8414) at US$71.6 million, and valves (HS 8481) at US$65.0 million. Electrical equipment (HS 85) added 12.3%, to US$609 million.
The total was little changed. Imports were US$5.23 billion (FOB), up 1.1% from July and 1.7% from August 2025, the second month this year above its 2025 level.
Medicines went the other way. Packaged medicines (HS 3004) fell 43.3% to US$77.3 million, their lowest since January 2025, and vaccines and blood products (HS 3002) eased 26.6% to US$144 million. Batteries (HS 8507) fell 80.8% after July's high.
China supplied US$1.54 billion, 29.5% of the total and 12.9% more than in July. Brazil rose for a third month, to US$1.17 billion.
From January to August, imports reached US$38.1 billion, 6.7% below the same months of 2025.
What the data shows: August combined a steady total with a clear shift toward machinery and away from medicines. The data does not show why; the year-to-date gap with 2025 has narrowed but remains.
Month at a glance
| Metric | August 2026 | July 2026 | Change | August 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Import value (US$) | 5,229,478,539 | 5,170,309,971 | +1.1% | 5,140,989,003 | +1.7% |
| Records | 524,472 | 499,859 | +4.9% | 540,035 | -2.9% |
| Importers | 12,014 | 11,668 | +3.0% | 12,127 | -0.9% |
How does the month compare with the last three months, the quarter, and the year?
| Period | Total | Prior period | vs prior period | Same period last year | vs same period last year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last 3 months Jun – Aug '26 | 15,759,371,327 | 14,049,589,695 Mar – May '26 | +12.2% | 16,051,438,675 | -1.8% |
| Quarter to date Jul – Aug '26 | 10,399,788,509 | 9,278,260,397 Apr – May '26 | +12.1% | 10,752,913,903 | -3.3% |
| Year to date Jan – Aug '26 | 38,062,519,782 | 40,799,808,731 Jan – Aug '25 | -6.7% | 40,799,808,731 | -6.7% |
What did Argentina import in August 2026?
By HS chapter
| HS | Category | Value (US$) | Share | vs Jul 2026 | vs Aug 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | Vehicles and parts | 873,929,571 | 16.7% | +2.9% | -22.8% |
| 84 | Machinery and computers | 869,826,703 | 16.6% | +16.9% | +5.5% |
| 85 | Electrical equipment | 609,076,948 | 11.6% | +12.3% | +13.3% |
| 27 | Mineral fuels and oils | 309,356,156 | 5.9% | -23.4% | +59.0% |
| 39 | Plastics | 236,905,208 | 4.5% | +1.2% | +18.2% |
| 30 | Pharmaceutical products | 234,325,081 | 4.5% | -32.4% | +22.2% |
| 29 | Organic chemicals | 234,074,813 | 4.5% | -1.7% | +13.6% |
| 31 | Fertilizers | 186,728,722 | 3.6% | +0.2% | -3.5% |
| 90 | Optical and medical instruments | 169,844,629 | 3.2% | +8.5% | +12.2% |
| 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products | 155,279,835 | 3.0% | +6.2% | +21.8% |
By product (HS4)
| HS | Product | Value (US$) | Share | vs Jul 2026 | vs Aug 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8703 | Passenger cars | 404,098,116 | 7.7% | -4.4% | -24.2% |
| 2711 | Natural gas and LPG | 231,807,442 | 4.4% | -15.3% | +66.1% |
| 8517 | Phones and network equipment | 170,431,651 | 3.3% | +32.6% | +25.9% |
| 3002 | Vaccines, blood, and immunological products | 143,934,674 | 2.8% | -26.6% | +72.0% |
| 8708 | Vehicle parts and accessories | 137,814,258 | 2.6% | +16.1% | -16.9% |
| 8704 | Trucks and pickups | 134,940,562 | 2.6% | +7.6% | -16.7% |
| 3102 | Nitrogen fertilizers | 117,761,312 | 2.3% | +127.8% | +56.6% |
| 8502 | Electric generating sets and rotary converters | 86,877,093 | 1.7% | +171.9% | +234.5% |
| 3808 | Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides | 84,244,485 | 1.6% | +27.1% | +27.3% |
| 8701 | Tractors | 82,765,409 | 1.6% | +21.0% | -36.4% |
What went up, what went down
Biggest increases
Nitrogen fertilizers (HS 3102) added US$66.1 million compared with July 2026, more than any other product heading.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3102 | Nitrogen fertilizers | 51,688,312 | 117,761,312 | +66,073,000 | +127.8% |
| 8502 | Electric generating sets and rotary converters | 31,948,709 | 86,877,093 | +54,928,384 | +171.9% |
| 8517 | Phones and network equipment | 128,497,334 | 170,431,651 | +41,934,317 | +32.6% |
| 8414 | Pumps, compressors, and fans | 32,117,324 | 71,566,379 | +39,449,055 | +122.8% |
| 8481 | Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes,... | 43,498,589 | 64,971,294 | +21,472,705 | +49.4% |
Biggest decreases
Batteries (HS 8507) had the largest decline, US$77.8 million less than in July 2026.
| HS | Product | Prior month | This month | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8507 | Batteries | 96,365,831 | 18,542,956 | -77,822,875 | -80.8% |
| 3004 | Packaged medicines | 136,392,902 | 77,288,726 | -59,104,176 | -43.3% |
| 3105 | Mixed fertilizers | 120,110,379 | 62,703,868 | -57,406,511 | -47.8% |
| 3002 | Vaccines, blood, and immunological products | 196,178,564 | 143,934,674 | -52,243,890 | -26.6% |
| 8802 | Aircraft n.e.c. in heading no. 8801, except unmanned... | 56,441,063 | 4,952,776 | -51,488,288 | -91.2% |
Where did Argentina's imports come from?
| Origin | Value (US$) | Share | vs Jul 2026 | vs Aug 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 1,540,298,052 | 29.5% | +12.9% | +16.0% |
| Brazil | 1,173,702,921 | 22.4% | +1.9% | -19.0% |
| United States | 519,716,118 | 9.9% | -13.1% | -7.2% |
| Germany | 207,307,020 | 4.0% | -12.7% | +9.4% |
| Other or unspecified | 139,440,164 | 2.7% | -37.4% | +151.2% |
| Italy | 138,032,705 | 2.6% | +37.5% | +28.1% |
| India | 108,337,020 | 2.1% | +57.8% | +11.1% |
| Vietnam | 93,078,300 | 1.8% | -4.8% | -15.1% |
| Spain | 76,684,784 | 1.5% | +39.9% | +34.9% |
| Bolivia | 74,277,034 | 1.4% | +119.5% | +135.7% |
Ports of entry
| Port | Value (US$) | Share | vs Jul 2026 | vs Aug 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buenos Aires (port) | 2,221,363,805 | 42.5% | +4.1% | +0.2% |
| Campana | 808,063,457 | 15.5% | +3.3% | -12.6% |
| Ezeiza (airport) | 615,642,737 | 11.8% | -22.9% | +25.5% |
| Paso de los Libres | 185,907,142 | 3.6% | +0.4% | +9.0% |
| Córdoba | 167,048,325 | 3.2% | +22.5% | -9.0% |
Which imports grew and declined over the last three months?
Jun 2026 to Aug 2026 compared with Jun 2025 to Aug 2025. Items under 0.5% of the three-month total are left out.
Products
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas and LPG | 582,347,210 | 856,579,100 | +274,231,891 | +47.1% |
| Vaccines, blood, and immunological products | 331,813,222 | 500,061,481 | +168,248,259 | +50.7% |
| Batteries | 65,671,990 | 166,738,676 | +101,066,686 | +153.9% |
| Electric generating sets and rotary converters | 66,293,280 | 150,055,637 | +83,762,356 | +126.4% |
| Centrifuges, including centrifugal dryers | 117,637,693 | 179,389,981 | +61,752,288 | +52.5% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 1,521,432,248 | 1,262,112,889 | -259,319,359 | -17.0% |
| Tractors | 391,723,790 | 209,421,798 | -182,301,991 | -46.5% |
| Vehicle parts and accessories | 543,275,631 | 387,991,965 | -155,283,666 | -28.6% |
| Trucks and pickups | 489,525,192 | 347,744,720 | -141,780,471 | -29.0% |
| Mixed fertilizers | 353,283,155 | 300,838,678 | -52,444,476 | -14.8% |
Countries
| Grew | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 3,824,353,493 | 4,280,448,818 | +456,095,324 | +11.9% |
| United States | 1,768,839,610 | 1,852,750,084 | +83,910,474 | +4.7% |
| Lithuania | 10,847,069 | 91,442,524 | +80,595,455 | +743.0% |
| Switzerland | 172,259,210 | 252,112,672 | +79,853,462 | +46.4% |
| Canada | 64,815,546 | 137,101,513 | +72,285,967 | +111.5% |
| Declined | Comparison period | Last 3 months | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 4,401,727,442 | 3,475,266,838 | -926,460,604 | -21.0% |
| Mexico | 348,468,488 | 256,462,057 | -92,006,431 | -26.4% |
| Vietnam | 349,933,893 | 267,205,509 | -82,728,384 | -23.6% |
| Russia | 97,700,381 | 37,462,223 | -60,238,158 | -61.7% |
| France | 259,956,109 | 218,164,375 | -41,791,734 | -16.1% |
Top importers in August 2026
12,014 importers received shipments this month. See who they are, what they bought, and from whom in Explorer.
| # | Importer | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Importer, HS 27 mineral fuels and oils | |
| 2 | Importer, HS 87 vehicles and parts | |
| 3 | Importer, HS 87 vehicles and parts | |
| 4 | Importer, HS 87 vehicles and parts | |
| 5 | Importer, HS 85 electrical equipment | |
| 6 | Importer, HS 87 vehicles and parts | |
| 7 | Importer, HS 87 vehicles and parts | |
| 8 | Importer, HS 27 mineral fuels and oils |
12-month trend
| Month | Value (US$) | Records |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 5,866,906,850 | 609,897 |
| Oct 2025 | 5,799,609,538 | 668,422 |
| Nov 2025 | 4,502,889,210 | 505,077 |
| Dec 2025 | 4,828,874,100 | 534,464 |
| Jan 2026 | 4,273,818,015 | 449,946 |
| Feb 2026 | 3,979,740,745 | 436,667 |
| Mar 2026 | 4,771,329,299 | 534,585 |
| Apr 2026 | 4,748,039,263 | 534,890 |
| May 2026 | 4,530,221,134 | 471,973 |
| Jun 2026 | 5,359,582,818 | 529,943 |
| Jul 2026 | 5,170,309,971 | 499,859 |
| Aug 2026 | 5,229,478,539 | 524,472 |
What looks unusual this month?
These changes may reflect a few large shipments, late records, or a classification change rather than a trend. Check them in the records before quoting them.
- HS 2934 (nucleic acids and their salts, whether or not chemically...) went from US$7.89 million to US$24.8 million. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- HS 7305 (iron or steel (excluding cast iron)) went from US$455,000 to US$14.6 million. Treat with caution: jumps this size often reflect a few large transactions or a classification change.
- Electric generating sets and rotary converters (HS 8502) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
- Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides (HS 3808) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
- Packaged medicines (HS 3004) fell to its lowest monthly level since January 2025.
- Pumps, compressors, and fans (HS 8414) reached its highest monthly level since January 2025.
Argentina import facts, August 2026
- Imports into Argentina totaled US$5.23 billion in August 2026, up 1.1% from July 2026 and up 1.7% from August 2025.
- The largest single product was passenger cars (HS 8703) at US$404 million.
- Nitrogen fertilizers (HS 3102) added US$66.1 million compared with July 2026, more than any other product heading.
- Batteries (HS 8507) had the largest decline, US$77.8 million less than in July 2026.
Methodology
Argentina customs (ARCA) import declarations. Import values are declared FOB values in US dollars. Categories follow the Harmonized System. Records are customs line items; importers are distinct importers with a record in the month. The latest month may be revised as late records arrive. The period table leaves out a comparison that reaches before January 2025, when the series starts, or that includes a month not used as a base. Year to date is compared with the same months a year earlier. Excludes provisional electricity declarations (HS 2716, regime IC01) and goods from Argentine free zones such as Tierra del Fuego, which are domestic production. Importers are counted by name as published (cut to 30 characters). Each line carries the declared FOB value with its quantity and unit of measure. Exports are not covered: the official export file is aggregated and drops small groups.
FAQ
Argentina trade, August 2026: frequently asked questions
How much did Argentina import in August 2026?
Argentina imported US$5.23 billion (FOB) in August 2026, up 1.1% from July 2026 and up 1.7% from August 2025, according to CargoFax customs records.
What does Argentina import?
In August 2026, Argentina's largest imports were passenger cars (HS 8703, US$404 million), natural gas and lpg (HS 2711, US$232 million), and phones and network equipment (HS 8517, US$170 million). The largest HS chapter was vehicles and parts, with 16.7% of the total.
Where does Argentina import from?
The top origin countries for Argentina's imports in August 2026 were China (29.5%), Brazil (22.4%), and the United States (9.9%), by share of value.
Are Argentina's imports going up or down?
Argentina's imports are falling. From June 2026 to August 2026, they totaled US$15.8 billion, down 1.8% from the same months last year. Year to date, Argentina's imports are down 6.7% from the same period of 2025.
What are Argentina's main ports of entry?
In August 2026, Argentina's main points of entry were Buenos Aires (port) with 42.5%, Campana with 15.5%, and Ezeiza (airport) with 11.8% of imports.
How many companies import into Argentina?
12,014 distinct importers appear in Argentina's customs records for August 2026. Their names are available to subscribers in Atlas Explorer.
Where can I get Argentina import and export data?
CargoFax publishes this Argentina trade report free every month. The Argentina customs records behind it, with company names, HS codes, countries, and ports, are searchable in Atlas Explorer and available in bulk through Files.
Get started
Get the full records
Search every Argentina shipment by importer, product, and origin in Atlas.