AGRICULTURE & ECONOMY Rainfall falters for Argentina’s baked soybean and corn farms Today 14:57 Rains that were forecast to fall on farmland over the weekend largely failed to materialise, leaving the region continuing to suffer from dryness.
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND IMF to send team to Argentina after ‘excellent’ Milei meeting Today 09:21 IMF Managing Director Georgieva meets President Javier Milei in Washington and highlights "tremendous progress" of Argentina’s economy. An IMF team will travel to Buenos Aires next week to accelerate talks over a new programme.
ECONOMIC POLICY Milei touts 'promises kept' after rare budget surplus 18-01-2025 10:21 Economy Minister Luis Caputo confirms Argentina's budget surplus, which amounted to 0.3% of GDP, was the first since 2010.
Foreign relations & diplomacy Peña says Paraguay thrilled to be on Trump’s radar 18-01-2025 10:10 Paraguay President Santiago Peña says as his nation stands to become more relevant in the next US administration.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK IMF projects strong economic growth for Milei's Argentina in 2025 17-01-2025 18:59 International Monetary Fund estimates that Argentina’s economy contracted by 2.8% last year, but projects five percent growth in the coming two years.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Argentina posts fiscal surplus after Milei’s budget cuts 17-01-2025 18:49 President Javier Milei made good on his promise to deliver a fiscal surplus in his first year, achieving a feat not seen in over a decade in Argentina’s deficit-prone economy.
CENTRAL BANK MANOUEVRES Argentina takes steps to dollarise and holds key rate 17-01-2025 11:49 Argentina’s Central Bank said payment intermediaries will have to enable debit card transactions in US currency by February 28, marking a key step in President Javier Milei’s pledge to dollarise the economy.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK World Bank forecasts 5% growth for Argentina in 2025 17-01-2025 09:52 After two years of recession, President Javier Milei’s government will see approximately five percent in GDP this year, followed by a further 4.7 percent in 2026, predicts World Bank.
TRUMP'S INAUGURATION Milei to join far-right leaders, tech moguls at Trump's inauguration 16-01-2025 19:23 Along with the president's usual travelling crew, one unexpected Argentine will also be in attendance: San Juan Province Governor Marcelo Orrego.
International Summit Trump to make 'digital' appearance at Davos meeting 14-01-2025 17:30 US president-elect will "digitally" join world leaders at the annual World Economic Forum; President Javier Milei will also address global elite at summit.
ECONOMY – ANALYSIS Milei lowers peso crawling peg to 1% after inflation stabilises 14-01-2025 16:43 Monthly inflation continues to run near a four-year low, opening the door for first change to currency policy in more than a year.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS INDEC reveals Argentina's 2024 inflation rate: 117.8% 14-01-2025 16:38 Annual inflation nosedives in boost for Milei; Prices rose 2.7% last month, reports INDEC; Bureau’s data shows inflation fell almost 94 points year-on-year.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Poverty affected 28.1% of portenos in Q3 2024 14-01-2025 14:40 Nearly 900,000 porteños were considered poor in the third quarter of 2024, according to City Hall statistics bureau.
International Monetary Fund IMF publishes grim evaluation of Argentina’s US$44-billion deal 12-01-2025 08:55 Ex-post evaluation paints a grim picture of Argentina’s latest IMF programme that began in March 2022. Staff detailed reckless policy decisions by the government of former president Alberto Fernández that derailed the programme and economy in the run-up to the 2023 presidential election.
Analysing Argentina Main Street and Milei Street 11-01-2025 06:26 any process of economic transformation, like the one President Javier Milei is trying to implement, will have winners and losers. by Marcelo J. García
SPENDING CUTS Scientists warn Milei wants to 'deepen' cuts, slash state research 10-01-2025 14:51 Scientists and academics warn the Milei administration wants to cut research funding across social and environmental sciences.
Hidrovía Paraná-Paraguay Paraná-Paraguay waterway a focal point for global security policy 10-01-2025 13:44 Ongoing tussle involving major dredging companies seeking to participate in Milei government's tender. Hidrovía Paraná-Paraguay is a naval highway for the trafficking of illicit drugs to the rest of the world.
Analysis Midterm elections set limit on Milei’s search for spending cuts 10-01-2025 13:26 Spending cuts in 2024 reached some five percent of Argentina's GDP. Is there room to repeat this feat?
BEYOND THE HEADLINES Is appreciation appreciated? 09-01-2025 19:37 Currency appreciation has been a central factor in giving Milei a dream spring – let us see if that same factor impelling several million Argentines to vacation abroad this summer sends the balance of payments wheel spinning in the opposite direction. by Michael Soltys
ECONOMIC FORECASTS Central Bank poll predicts 2025 inflation rate of 25.9% 09-01-2025 14:22 Projections for last year’s inflation rate dips to 117.8% in Central Bank’s market expectations survey.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS City inflation accelerated slightly to 3.3% last month 09-01-2025 13:50 Consumer prices rose 3.3% last month due to increases in services; City Hall data shows that inflation over the last 12 months totalled 136.7% in 2024.
WHERE'S THE GOLD? Argentina refuses to disclose location of Central Bank’s gold 09-01-2025 13:13 Lawyers representing Argentina in a New York court have refused to reveal the location of the Central Bank’s (BCRA) gold reserves.
BONDS & MARKETS Milei celebrates as Argentina pays US$4.3B to bondholders 09-01-2025 13:07 "Debts must be paid," declares President Javier Milei as Treasury makes first due bond repayments of 2025, amounting to US$4.341 billion in principal and interest.
DEBT REPAYMENTS Official says country made payments on sovereign debt 09-01-2025 11:38 Finance Secretary Pablo Quirno said on a post on X Thursday morning that Argentina's government has made debt payments to international bondholders.
POLITICS & MEDIA Despite ‘no pauta’ rule, Milei finds other ways to reward or punish the media 08-01-2025 15:56 The Milei administration cut state advertising as part of its austerity plan, but quietly, other state bodies and firms continue to distribute cash without transparency.
GLOBAL LITHIUM TRADE Stubbornly resilient lithium supply remains hurdle to recovery 08-01-2025 10:06 Lithium prices have plunged since late 2022 on oversupply and slower-than-expected growth in electric vehicle demand. Analysts see a surplus this year, although they forecast it will be smaller than in 2024.
AGRICULTURE & ECONOMY La Niña effects surprise Argentine farmers as dryness kicks in 07-01-2025 16:55 La Niña wreaked havoc on Argentina’s farms just two years ago. Now, a long bout of dry weather is emerging again.
LATIN AMERICA Between Milei and Lula, Paraguay finance chief eyes austere path 07-01-2025 12:32 Paraguay Finance Minister Carlos Fernández argues sustainable fiscal policy matters in a region exposed to international crisis.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL EU-Mercosur free-trade deal 'not concluded,' says Macron 06-01-2025 16:38 French President Emmanuel Macron declares that the controversial free-trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc is "not concluded."
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Argentina's country risk rating falls to lowest level since 2018 06-01-2025 15:21 Argentina’s country risk rating falls to lowest level since August 2018.
REPURCHASE AGREEMENT Milei scores win with US$1-billion repo from five top banks 05-01-2025 09:47 Milei administration announces US$1-billion repurchase agreement with five international lenders that will help replenish foreign reserves at its Central Bank.
SOCIETY Expert reports say poverty rate has fallen to 36.8% 04-01-2025 15:11 Experts warn of structural poverty risks as two reports tracking indices say the number of Argentines considered poor fell significantly in the last quarter of 2024.
Analysing Argentina May you live in happy times, Mr President 04-01-2025 07:54 Much of this success hinges on the Pax at the exchange rate market. Prices in Argentina dance to the tune of one price: that of the US dollar. by Marcelo J. García
Editorial The year ahead 04-01-2025 06:24 An electoral year already anticipated well in advance offers no clearer horizons now that it has started.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK Caputo already has the dollars he need to meet this year’s debt deadlines 03-01-2025 13:32 Argentina’s Treasury took advantage of the fiscal surplus to buy the necessary hard currency.
LIONEL'S WEALTH US$232 million – Lionel Messi reveals his real-estate assets 31-12-2024 08:49 Lionel Messi has carried out a listing of his real-estate properties, valuing the portfolio at 223 million euros (US$232 million).
IMF DEBT PROGRAMME IMF to review US$44-billion loan in key step toward new deal 30-12-2024 17:31 International Monetary Fund’s executive board will review Argentina’s current US$44-billion aid programme next month, a crucial step as President Javier Milei negotiates for a new loan.
BUDGET PROPOSAL Milei extends 2023 Budget for second year running 30-12-2024 15:46 President Javier Milei announces that Argentina's Budget for next year will be an extension of the current one – itself a rollover from 2023.
end-of-year editorial So long to 2024... and welcome to 2025 28-12-2024 16:41 The Milei presidency begins this year riding the crest of a wave but neither the rest of the world nor the existence of black swans can be ignored and nor is the economy the only issue.
CENTRAL BANK RESERVES Argentina spent US$803 million this week on importer dollar demand 27-12-2024 18:42 Central Bank’s operations risk denting Milei's government’s efforts to replenish its treasure chest of reserves
CENTRAL BANK RESERVES Argentina sells most FX reserves since 2019 on importer demand 26-12-2024 19:14 Central Bank sells most foreign reserves in one day since October 2019 after officials eliminate PAIS tax on imports, igniting corporate demand for dollars.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Economy expanded faster than expected in October 24-12-2024 06:52 Argentina’s economy expanded more than expected in October, according to official data.
WAR ON THE STATE Milei’s ‘chainsaw’ cut nearly 35,000 public-sector jobs in 2024 21-12-2024 05:07 Report by the Deregulation & State Transformation Ministry, headed by Milei ally Federico Sturzenegger, details 34,280 dismissals or contract terminations between December 2023 and October 2024, shrinking the state payroll by seven percent.
IMF NEGOTIATIONS OVER NEW DEAL IMF: Formal talks over new deal with Argentina have begun 19-12-2024 21:09 The International Monetary Fund and Argentina have formally begun negotiations over a new loan agreement as the current programme draws to a close.
ANALYSIS: SHOCK THERAPY Argentina takes steps to speed up Milei’s dollarisation strategy 19-12-2024 15:38 Argentina’s government is working with major banks and payment firms to advance Javier Milei’s dollarisation strategy.
AGRICULTURE & ECONOMY Distressed fund wins key role in bankruptcy case of soy exporter Vicentin 19-12-2024 15:03 Esteban Nofal, who runs Cima Investments SA, has swept up almost 35% of Vicentin’s US$1.3 billion of unsecured debt from a group of global banks for just 11 cents on the dollar.
ENERGY & GAS Shell signs accord with Argentina’s YPF to develop LNG plant 19-12-2024 14:57 Shell Plc has signed an agreement with Argentina’s state-run energy company YPF SA to work on a plan to export liquefied natural gas.
NEW IMF PROGRAMME IMF in talks with Argentina on loan to succeed US$44-billion deal 19-12-2024 14:13 International Monetary Fund confirms it has formally opened talks with President Javier Milei's government over a new loan programme to replace its existing US$44-billion deal.
ECONOMIC POLICY Milei, Caputo increasing bullish as they outline new IMF deal timeline 19-12-2024 09:50 Argentina eyes fresh accord with the International Monetary Fund in the first third of next year, with President Milei confident of strong support, both at the Fund and on trade, from incoming US president Donald Trump.
TURBULENCE IN BRAZIL Brazil market rout risks a crisis as Lula resists austerity push 19-12-2024 08:25 As the currency craters in Brazil, thrusting the country’s markets into the international spotlight for the first time in years, a grim reality is setting in for top economic aides to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. They are, they fear, powerless to do much to stop the panic.