Vaca Muerta and Mining Reshape Argentina's Export Map

The advance of Vaca Muerta and mining is reshaping the regional distribution of Argentine exports. During the first half of 2026, Patagonia's external sales increased 51.7% year-over-year and those of Northwest Argentina (NOA), driven by lithium, grew 68.2%. In the same period, the Pampean region recorded a rise of 15.2%.

Patagonia shifted from concentrating 14.8% of national exports in 2025 to 17.8% in the first six months of 2026. NOA advanced from 5.8% to 6.5%, while the Pampean region's share fell from 72.9% to 66.1%.

Neuquén is the most striking case. The province represented 0.25% of Argentine exports in 2015 and reached 8.7% eleven years later, with external sales of $4,534 million in 2025. Of that amount, 96.7% corresponded to fuels and energy.

Growth is also reflected in production complexes. The oil and petrochemical sector exported $11,772 million in 2025, 12.8% more than the previous year, while the gold and silver complex reached $4,886 million, with year-over-year expansion of 27.7%. Mining activity has significant impact in San Juan, Santa Cruz, Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca.

Infrastructure and Suppliers, Pending Challenges

Export expansion cannot be resolved solely through tax reductions. Necessary conditions include better roads, railways and ports, access to financing, capacity to attract investment and a network of local companies that can integrate into new value chains.

The Gross Revenue Tax is one point of discussion because it can accumulate at different stages of production and commercialization. However, immediate elimination would affect provincial finances, which shifted from surplus to deficit in 2025. For this reason, alternatives under analysis include gradual reductions at intermediate stages, a scheme similar to provincial VAT and coordinated reform between the Nation and provinces.

There are also proposals to professionalize provincial investment promotion agencies and create assistance, training and certification programs for suppliers. In Neuquén and Río Negro, logistics projections warn that sand transport could grow between 15% and 148% depending on the scenario, making it necessary to expand and diversify infrastructure so that the Vaca Muerta and mining boom translates into new businesses and productive development.

With information from El Cronista — Minería.