Record Increases in Argentine Corn Imports by North Africa
In a significant shift in the agricultural trade landscape, Morocco has ramped up its imports of corn from Argentina by a staggering 133%, resulting in the purchase of 1.55 million tonnes during the initial seven months of 2026. This surge is largely attributed to North African nations seeking alternatives to Ukrainian corn, which has faced substantial supply chain disruptions due to ongoing Russian military actions and logistical challenges. This year, Argentina is poised to achieve record corn exports, projecting an impressive total of 10 million tonnes during August and September alone.
The data, sourced from Argentina's INDEC statistics agency, reveals that North African imports of corn increased by 45%, reaching a total of 6.5 million tonnes in the same seven-month period. Specifically, Egypt and Algeria each contributed to this figure by importing 2.4 million tonnes, with Egypt seeing a 48% increase in its purchases and Algeria's imports rising by 10%. These developments highlight a robust demand for Argentine corn in these regions, which are heavily reliant on grain imports for animal feed and food production.
Impact of Ukrainian Supply Disruptions
Historically, Ukraine has been a crucial supplier of grain to North Africa, but the current geopolitical tensions have severely hampered its export capabilities. Russian strikes have intensified around the Odesa region, disrupting the Black Sea ports that once handled about 90% of Ukraine's grain exports. While Ukraine has made efforts to redirect its grain shipments through the Danube River ports, extreme weather conditions have diminished water levels, further complicating these logistics. This has led to a staggering 52% decline in Ukraine's grain shipments recently reported.
This unfolding scenario has opened a vital opportunity for Argentina, the world’s third-largest corn exporter, to fill the void left by Ukrainian disruptions. The exceptional harvest in Argentina, estimated at 71.7 million tonnes for the 2025/26 season—nearly 20% higher than its previous record—has positioned the country favorably in the international market. The increase in Argentine corn imports is particularly significant for North African countries, where corn plays a critical role in animal feed, impacting the prices and availability of poultry, eggs, meat, and dairy products.
However, there remains uncertainty regarding whether the uptick in Argentine imports will translate to reduced food or animal-feed prices in Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria. Additionally, it is unclear if the current spike in imports is a short-term reaction to the ongoing war or if it signifies the establishment of long-term trade relations between North African buyers and Argentine suppliers.
As reported by africa.businessinsider.com.
