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.
