“Historical moment”: the production of a crop grew almost 100% in 4 years and entered the top ten of the complexes that generate the most dollars in Argentina

According to the manager,Crop production will grow 94% this year compared to the 2021/22 campaignin response to sustained international demand and prices that encouraged expansion. This growth was not only reflected in the volume of grain, but also in higher levels of processing and exports.

One of the most notable facts of the speech was the historical comparison: The current campaign is close to seven million tonsa level similar to the record of the late 1990s, although with 1.3 million hectares less. “This is the first added value at origin and a clear example of the increase in the sustainability of our production system,” he said.

In this sense, during 2025 lExports of oils and byproducts generated about 50% more foreign exchange than the previous year, according to the head of Asagir.

Jorge Ingaramo, economist at Asagir, added more data: it was US$2.2 billion and for this year they expect it to be similar, which made it the eighth most important complex in the country.

In parallel, Last year oil production reached its highest level since 2000 (1.8 million tons) and maintains a growing trend in the first months of 2026, with new investments and the incorporation of actors into the business.

Looking to the future, the president of ASAGIR proposed an even greater expansion scenario, projecting that if global demand is sustained and the planted area that the crop had towards the end of the last century recovers, Argentina could reach 9.5 million tons. “We can become more and more like a sea of ​​sunflowers,” he said.

In this framework, Salas Oyarzun highlighted the growing relevance of external markets. With domestic demand supplied, the focus shifts to international trade, where India appears as the main strategic destination, a country that takes around 50% of Argentine oil.

For this reason, he raised the importance of diversify markets and deepen the work of identifying specific niches, with an active foreign service role.

Doors inside the chain, The leader emphasized improving grain conservation practices to maintain qualityd, as well as continuing with the dissemination of good practices and technical training. He also highlighted the evolution of yields, both in kilos and fat content, driven by advances in genetics and research.

However, he raised pending challenges, such as the need to reduce the gaps between potential and actual yields in the fieldy limitations in infrastructure and logistics that become more evident with the expansion of the productive area.

Finally, the president of ASAGIR linked the growth of sunflowers to a context of less regulatory pressure. He noted that the reduction of distorting taxes and trade restrictions allows “unleash the productive forcespromoting investment, employment and development.

“The reason for the existence of our association and this Congress is precisely that: to share knowledge, experiences and visions to promote the sustainable development of sunflowers,” he concluded, before formally opening the meeting.