en.Wedoany.com Reported - According to the latest report released by Argentina's Mining Secretariat (Secretaría de Minería), total mining product exports in the first half of 2026 reached $4.742 billion, setting a new record for the same period in history. This figure represents a 74.4% year-on-year increase compared to $2.719 billion in the same period of 2025, and is 154.7% above the average for the same period from 2010 to 2025.
In June 2026 alone, mining exports reached $744 million, up 54.6% from June of the previous year. This strong performance brought mining's share of Argentina's total exports in the first six months of the year to 9.7%.
Metallic minerals remain the cornerstone of the mining trade balance. From January to June, cumulative sales in this category totaled $3.559 billion, a year-on-year increase of 58.1%, accounting for 75.1% of the semester's mining foreign exchange revenue.
Among metallic minerals, gold maintained its status as a star product, contributing $2.905 billion over the six-month period, representing 61% of total mining exports, up 51.2% year-on-year. Silver also performed notably, with cumulative exports of $562 million, accounting for 12% of total mining exports, and surging 90.2% year-on-year in June, driven by improved international prices and higher shipment volumes.
Lithium emerged as the true highlight of the period. In the first six months of 2026, sales of this strategic mineral reached $1.096 billion, a 185.0% increase over the same period last year, marking the best first-half performance in history. June lithium exports reached $212 million, up 334.9% year-on-year, setting a new monthly record. This exponential growth was driven by favorable international prices and a 68.2% increase in semester export volumes.
The composition of the 2026 mining export basket shows growing diversification. In 2025, lithium accounted for 14% of exports, while in the first half of 2026, its share rose to 23.1%, gaining greater weight relative to traditional metallic minerals.
Other products, including non-metallic minerals and building stone, totaled $87 million over the six-month period. This segment is dominated by borates, boric acid, and bentonite, as well as lime, which accounts for the vast majority of the building stone category.
Destination market analysis reveals a high concentration among four major trading partners. Switzerland, China, the United States, and South Korea absorbed 78% of total mining exports so far this year, amounting to $3.706 billion. Switzerland is the top destination, accounting for 32% of the total at $1.520 billion, driven primarily by gold. China ranks second with a 25% share, totaling $1.165 billion, a 205% year-on-year increase for the semester. The United States ranks third with 17% of purchases, at $786 million, up 90% year-on-year. South Korea, despite a smaller cumulative share (5%), grew 196% compared to the first half of 2025.
Other important export destinations for Argentine mining during the semester include Canada ($377 million), Brazil ($79 million), and Finland ($39 million), completing the global export landscape.
