Argentina courier imports surge to $518 million in first five months of 2026

Purchases of goods shipped to Argentina via courier reached a new record of US$518 million for the first five months of 2026, an increase of 113.2 % over the same period a year earlier. In May alone, courier imports grew 84.4 % year‑on‑year, just shy of the US$118 million record set in April.

The growth is driven by relaxed import conditions and consumers seeking lower‑priced apparel and technology. The Agency of Revenue and Customs Control (ARCA) raised the maximum weight for international courier parcels to 50 kg at the start of 2025, and each shipment may be valued up to US$3,000. Packages under US$400 are exempt from import duties and statistical fees, though value‑added tax still applies. "Although its share of total imports remains small, the courier segment is now one of the three most relevant categories in the Mercosur eight‑digit nomenclature," the Analytica consultancy noted.

Small‑shipment rules allow up to three items per package and a maximum of five shipments per person per year. Private‑courier shipments do not need to be registered on the ARCA website, unlike those handled by Correo Argentino.