Argentina's oilseed plants at 90% capacity, barley sowing at 68% of goal

In May, the Argentine oilseed industry's installed capacity utilization rose sharply to 90%, up from 76% in April, driven by a surge in sunflower milling and significant soybean imports from Paraguay. Soybean milling reached 4.18 million tonnes, 7.8 % above the same month in 2025, helped by 1.01 million tonnes of Paraguayan soy. Sunflower milling hit 548 000 tonnes, the second‑highest May total on record, while the absolute milling record was set in March with 565 000 tonnes. As of 1 July, the sector had purchased 18.4 million tonnes of soybeans.

Meanwhile, barley planting for the 2026/27 campaign has covered 67.6 % of the anticipated area, a 33‑point increase over the previous two weeks. Progress accelerated in north La Pampa and western Buenos Aires, where 90 % of the planted area has emerged, while central and southeastern Buenos Aires lag due to excess soil moisture. Overall, planting remains 12 percentage points behind last year's level and six points below the historic average, with further advances expected if July rains improve soil conditions.