Overview
- Abeceb data published July 5 showed Argentina and Brazil recorded a June bilateral deficit of just USD 40 million, a roughly 94% drop from June 2025.
- June exports from Argentina to Brazil rose 16.9% to USD 1,285 million while imports fell 18.1, leaving total bilateral trade down 4% at USD 2,610 million.
- The import collapse was concentrated in the automotive sector with road vehicles down 65.6%, goods vehicles down 55% and passenger cars down 41.1%, and parts and accessories also fell sharply.
- Abeceb attributes the import decline to Argentine overstocking, weak domestic demand and falling vehicle registrations plus a shift by buyers toward suppliers in China and other non‑Mercosur markets, and it flags recent exchange‑rate moves as a further drag on future imports.
- Through the first half of 2026 the accumulated deficit with Brazil fell to USD 993 million, 66% below last year, a change that could ease trade pressures but also risks job and production impacts in Argentina’s auto supply chain while export strength from harvests and higher energy prices may partially offset those effects.