Information released by Argentina’s Bahía Blanca Grain and Commodities Exchange (BCPBB) shows that the Port of Bahía Blanca greatly improved its exports last year. These amounted to 10.5 million tonnes, up 42% compared to 2023. Significantly, though, total volume remains below the average of the last five years.
Indicating reasons for the recovery in traffic, the BCPBB emphasises an improvement in prevailing weather within Argentina compared to 2023 as the main element, since this resulted in a bigger harvest. In addition, pests such as leafhoppers, which damaged crops in other regions, were not a factor in the production that is centred on the port.
Maize remains the leading commodity, with 5.8 million tonnes exported. This is equivalent to 56% of all traffic, up 42% on the year. 80% of shipments went to Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
Soybeans also did well, exports growing by 198% to 1.4 million tonnes. All but five percent of shipments went to China.
Wheat exports rose by 94% to 1.5 million tonnes. Although this was encouraging, the total is still 27% below the five-year average. Brazil absorbed 56% of wheat exports, although demand on the year grew significantly from Indonesia.
Only one grain commodity registered a decline: barley. This dropped 31% compared to 2023 to 964,707 tonnes. Key was a 52% reduction in demand from China.
Exports peaked in May 2024, with a total of 1.3 million tonnes shipped thanks to strong demand for maize and soybeans.
Vietnam is now the port’s leading destination for exports, having overtaken China last year. Its 2.1 million tonnes of imports was equivalent to growth of 63% on the year, with maize dominating. China, however, still attracts the most soybean and barley traffic. Brazil remains the third largest customer, last year increasing traffic by 14%, with significant hikes in both wheat and malt.
Ironically, the drop in water levels on the Parana River actually helped Bahia Blanca whilst hindering operations at other export ports. This allowed the port to fill many larger bulk carriers, although problems remain in consolidating export volumes of products such as wheat and barley.