The historic drought that hit the core region of the country caused severe consequences in the productive dynamics of the provinces that cover the largest grain planting area.
In this sense, although corn registered a noticeable drop, being 27.7% year-on-year and exporting 97,000 tons less than in the same period of 2022 and the great decrease in its crops due to the drought, it is worth emphasizing its time in the extremely worrying situation that is visualized in relation to the sowing of wheat.
This translates into the 313 million dollars less collected by the few wheat exports, being the grain that had the greatest interference in the export decline.
In turn, in dialogue with this medium, from the province they pointed out the impact that the drought is also having on the planting of corn, when they postulated: “There was very little water in the soil profile, added to the fact that in August, September and part of October did not rain as expected. This meant that early maize sowing was not done.”
The rains arrived late for wheat and specialists were correct in predicting that the 2022/23 campaign would be the worst since 2010. The widespread drought was aggravated by successive episodes of frost that hit wheat crops at a key moment for their development. a blow that is still being evaluated today and the damage multiplies every day. Wheat was caught at the worst moment, going through the critical period with an extreme lack of water.
In this context, the national government collected withholdings for wheat exports of 9 million tons. Taking into account that the 2021 campaign registered a total of 21 million tons, in 2022 under this climatic and international context that has not contributed to a general improvement for a long time, the final numbers speak of a total of 13 million tons in 2022, about eight million tons less.
total exports
At a general level, during the period January – February 2023, exports originating in the province of Santa Fe reached a value of US$ 1,846.3 million. They decreased 27.0% compared to the same period of the previous year. Exported volumes, measured in tons, showed a 43% drop, while prices, expressed in dollars per ton, rose 28.1% in relation to January-February 2022.
The amount of exports of primary products in the analyzed period was US$ 160.9 million, 67.2% less than in the same period of 2022. The quantities measured in tons fell 71.8%, accompanied by an increase in prices of 16.6%.
In the two months of 2023, the external sales of Manufactures of Agricultural Origin totaled US$ 1,461.3 million, and showed a fall of 4.1% in relation to the same period of the previous year. In terms of tons, exports fell 18.9%, and average prices increased 18.3%.
Exports of Manufactures of Industrial Origin were registered for an amount of US$ 208.6 million, 57.9% less than in the same period of 2022. Exported volumes registered a reduction of 68.4%, accompanied by a year-on-year variation of positive prices of 33.3%.
The exported value of Fuels and Energy was US$ 15.5 million, reflecting a negative interannual variation of 15.9%. Exported quantities fell 13.5% and prices decreased 2.7%.
