Milei effect: yerba mate exports reached a historic record

Yerba mate exports reached their highest level in history in September, with 7,255,770 kilos (15,999,000 pounds) shipped abroad, according to official data from the National Institute of Yerba Mate (INYM). Sector projections indicate that 2025 could close with more than 50 million kilos (110,231,000 pounds) exported, which would represent a year-on-year increase of over 20%.

The data confirm the reactivation of the agro-export complex under Javier Milei's administration, where trade liberalization, the elimination of bureaucratic obstacles, and macroeconomic stability are generating a climate of predictability and expansion. After years of stagnation, yerba mate mills are celebrating the return of export dynamism and the recovery of the domestic market.

Rising exports and external confidence

During the first nine months of the year, international demand for yerba mate grew by almost 10% compared to the same period in 2024, adding 8.7 million kilos (19,180,000 pounds) more. If the pace continues, it will be the second consecutive year of expansion, something that hasn't happened since 2017-2018.

The main destinations remain Syria, Chile, and the United States, although new markets in Europe and the Middle East are beginning to incorporate the Argentine product thanks to its competitiveness and quality. This phenomenon responds to a more open and export-friendly economic context, in line with the deregulation agenda promoted by the national government.

The domestic market is also recovering

Local consumption is also showing clear signs of recovery: Argentines consumed 13.6 million kilos (29,983,000 pounds) more yerba mate between January and September, compared to the same period last year. Shipments increased from 193 to 207 million kilos (425,492,000 to 456,357,000 pounds), an improvement that contrasts with the decline recorded during 2024.

Compared to 2023, the industry still hasn't reached pre-crisis levels, but it is growing again after three years of decline. Overall, total shipments from the industrial sector increased from 226 to 249 million kilos (498,244,000 to 548,951,000 pounds), consolidating a positive trend that spans both local consumption and exports.

A new horizon for the yerba mate economy

The pending challenge remains for primary producers, who are demanding better prices for green leaf. However, the normalization of foreign trade and the recovery of the domestic market point to a long-term structural improvement.

In a context where economic confidence has once again shifted in Argentina's favor, the "Milei effect" is also being felt in mate: more exports, more consumption, and a productive chain that is growing freely again.