Buenos Aires Times

Artificial Intelligence Data Center Boom Raises Investment Interest in Argentina’s Copper Sector

Mining executives said rising power and infrastructure demand from global Artificial Intelligence data centers is increasing the strategic importance of Argentina’s Andean copper reserves and could accelerate investment alongside project...

Argentina and Uruguay Sign Open Skies Agreement to Deregulate Bilateral Air Travel

Argentina and Uruguay finalized an agreement removing longstanding restrictions on bilateral aviation services, opening the way for expanded commercial routes, logistics links and tourism across the Río de la Plata.

European Union Regulatory Change Boosts Prospects for Argentine Soybean Meal Exports

Argentina’s protein and agribusiness exports increased during the first seven months of the year after the European Union removed an Indirect Land Use Change classification that had threatened access to a key market for soybean meal.

Argentine Industrial Union Calls for Immediate Corporate Tax Cuts as Manufacturing Contracts

Argentina’s leading industrial business group urged the Milei administration to reduce corporate taxes and adopt measures to revive economic activity, highlighting mounting pressure on manufacturers under the government’s austerity polic...

Argentina’s Central Bank Reserves Rise Above $50 Billion as Currency Gap Narrows to 2%

Argentina’s central bank reported a $2 billion rebound in gross reserves while the parallel exchange rate fell to 1,545 pesos per dollar, narrowing the gap with the official wholesale rate to about 2%.

Argentina’s Sovereign Risk Falls Below 500 Basis Points as United States Treasury Backs Milei Agenda

Argentina’s dollar-denominated bonds rallied and the country’s sovereign risk premium fell to a multi-year low as United States Treasury support strengthened investor confidence in President Javier Milei’s fiscal stabilization and deregu...

Argentina Sets New Minimum Wage After Labor Talks Fail

Argentina’s government imposed new minimum-wage levels effective September 2026 after unions and business representatives failed to reach an agreement through the National Employment Council.

Argentina’s Public University Staff Strike After Rejecting Federal Pay Offer

Academic and administrative workers across Argentina’s public universities launched coordinated strikes after rejecting a federal proposal for a 6% wage increase every two months.

Genneia Signs Renewable Power Deals With Argentine Mining Projects

Argentine renewable-energy producer Genneia secured electricity supply agreements with mining operations in the Andes, providing clean power to expanding copper and lithium projects.

Argentina Metals Lists in Toronto to Fund Mendoza Copper Exploration

Argentina Metals listed on the TSX Venture Exchange to raise capital for copper exploration across nearly 150,000 hectares in Mendoza province.

YPF Cuts Vaca Muerta Shale Production Costs to $4.40 per Barrel Equivalent

YPF said lifting costs at its Vaca Muerta operations fell to $4.40 per barrel of oil equivalent, improving the cost competitiveness of Argentina’s shale production.

Soybean Prices Top $484 a Tonne, Improving Outlook for Argentine Exporters

Chicago soybean prices rose above $484 per metric ton amid strong Chinese demand and weather disruptions in North America, improving the revenue outlook for Argentine producers still holding about half of the current harvest.

UK Reaffirms Sovereignty Over Falkland Islands After Trump-Related Diplomatic Comments

Britain said sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, is not open to renegotiation after comments from US political figures prompted a response welcomed by the Argentine government.

EU Authorizes Talks With Argentina on Crisis Management and Defense Cooperation

The European Union approved negotiations on Argentina’s participation in European crisis-management missions, deepening cooperation between Buenos Aires and Brussels following provisional implementation of the Mercosur trade agreement.

Pumpco-Led Consortium Wins Contract for Argentina LNG Gas Trunkline

Argentina’s liquefied natural gas venture awarded a construction contract to a consortium led by Pumpco for a large-diameter gas pipeline needed to expand the country’s capacity for maritime energy exports.

Vaca Muerta Oil Sur Pipeline Reaches 80% Completion

The pipeline designed to carry crude from Vaca Muerta to Atlantic export terminals is now 80% complete, bringing Argentina closer to easing transport bottlenecks and expanding oil export capacity.

Argentine Agribusiness Brings $2.75 Billion Into Foreign Exchange Market in August

Argentina’s agricultural sector sold $2.75 billion through the official foreign exchange market in August, providing liquidity to the central bank as it manages debt payments and prepares to ease currency controls further.

Argentina Eases Dollar-Lending Restrictions to Expand Corporate Credit

Argentina’s central bank relaxed longstanding restrictions on dollar-denominated lending to domestic companies, aiming to channel foreign-currency deposits toward export-oriented businesses and wider economic activity.

Argentina’s Senate Weighs New Tax Incentives for AI and Semiconductor Megaprojects

Argentine senators are debating legislation offering a 15% corporate tax rate and 30 years of fiscal stability for qualifying technology, biotechnology and digital infrastructure projects involving at least $1 billion in foreign investment.

YPF Raises 2026 Investment Plan to $6.2 Billion as Vaca Muerta Output Expands

Argentina’s state-backed energy company YPF increased its 2026 capital spending plan to $6.2 billion after a record first half, directing most of the additional investment toward shale production and transport infrastructure.

Copper Overtakes Lithium as Argentina’s Leading Mining Investment Target

Approved copper projects account for $13.3 billion in planned investment under Argentina’s incentive regime, compared with $5.7 billion for lithium, according to government data.

Argentina Extends Investment Incentives to Large Upstream Oil and Gas Projects

Argentina expanded its tax and customs incentive regime to upstream hydrocarbon projects worth more than $200 million, seeking to accelerate production and exports from the Vaca Muerta region.

Argentina’s Poverty Rate Falls to 30% in First Quarter of 2026

Official data show Argentina’s poverty rate declined to 30% in the first quarter, down 24.8 percentage points from its crisis peak as lower inflation and fiscal surpluses eased cost-of-living pressures.

Argentina’s August Inflation Estimated Below 2% as Price Growth Slows

Argentina’s central bank and domestic financial institutions estimate consumer inflation fell below 2% in August, helped by slower food-price increases and tight monetary policy.

Argentina Records Largest Quarterly Trade Surplus in 30 Years

Argentina posted its biggest quarterly goods trade surplus in three decades during the second quarter of 2026, supported by a sharp improvement in the energy balance and record agricultural exports.

Argentina Approves Tecpetrol’s $6.4 Billion Vaca Muerta Investment

Argentina approved a $6.4 billion investment by Tecpetrol in Vaca Muerta, the country’s largest single investment of the year, with the project expected to create nearly 8,000 direct jobs by the end of 2027.

Buenos Aires Tango Mundial Draws Competitors and Visitors From More Than 50 Countries

Buenos Aires’ annual Tango Mundial championship has attracted thousands of competitors and spectators from more than 50 countries, supporting cultural tourism and hospitality activity in the Argentine capital.

Uruguay Sees Surge in Peso-Denominated Funds as Regional Investors Shift Toward Local Currencies

Uruguayan financial markets are recording stronger flows into peso-denominated money-market products, reflecting growing regional interest in local-currency assets that is also being closely watched by Argentine corporate investors.

Foreign Technology Investors Face Political Pushback From Argentina’s Opposition

Foreign investors including Palantir founder Peter Thiel have become targets of criticism from left-wing opposition groups that argue the Milei government’s deregulation agenda gives excessive advantages to international technology billi...

MercadoLibre Chief Ariel Szarfsztejn Reshapes Strategy Amid Rising Regional Competition

New MercadoLibre chief executive Ariel Szarfsztejn is reorganizing the Latin American e-commerce and digital finance group as it faces stronger international competition and shortages of specialized technology talent in Buenos Aires.

Trump Threatens to Reduce U.S. Support for Britain Amid Defense Spending Dispute

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested Washington could withdraw security support from the United Kingdom over defense spending, adding new uncertainty to South Atlantic diplomacy and Argentina’s dispute with Britain over the Malvinas...

Grassi Advances Restructuring Proposal for Distressed Soy Exporter Vicentin

Agricultural brokerage Grassi and domestic investors are proposing a new restructuring plan for Vicentin aimed at preserving the failed soy exporter’s assets and restoring processing capacity in Argentina’s Santa Fe agribusiness region.

Central Puerto Enters Oil and Gas Sector With Patagonia Energy Acquisition

Argentine power producer Central Puerto has acquired regional hydrocarbon concessions through its purchase of Patagonia Energy, diversifying beyond electricity generation and increasing its exposure to the country’s growing oil industry.

MercadoLibre Calls for Tougher Rules on Chinese E-Commerce Platforms in Latin America

MercadoLibre executives are urging regional governments to strengthen commercial regulations for rapidly expanding Chinese online retailers as competition intensifies across Latin American e-commerce markets.

Argentina Accelerates Removal of Electricity and Gas Subsidies for Higher-Income Households

Federal energy authorities are moving more quickly to reduce electricity and natural gas subsidies for higher-income households in metropolitan Buenos Aires as the government seeks to preserve its zero-deficit fiscal policy.

Argentina Government and Unions Negotiate One Million Peso Minimum Wage

President Javier Milei’s administration is negotiating with national labor unions over a proposed one million peso minimum wage for formal-sector workers as broader economic reforms continue.

Grupo Perfil Opens Intellectual Property Dispute With OpenAI Over News Content

Argentine media group Perfil has launched an intellectual property challenge over the use of proprietary journalism by artificial intelligence developers, bringing the global dispute over news content and AI training into the Latin Ameri...

Argentine Industries Warn of Competitive Risks From EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement

Manufacturing and agricultural groups in Argentina and other Mercosur countries are raising concerns that a proposed trade agreement with the European Union could place domestic producers at a competitive disadvantage.

Argentina Central Bank Continues Dollar Purchases Ahead of Expected Agricultural Export Inflows

Argentina’s central bank is continuing daily foreign-exchange purchases to build reserves while maintaining its currency band, as the agricultural sector holds an estimated $37 billion in export proceeds still awaiting liquidation.

Argentina Sovereign Bonds Extend Gains as Fiscal Austerity Supports Market Confidence

Argentine government bonds have continued rising following recent credit upgrades, supported by the Milei administration’s zero-deficit policy and reductions in the central bank’s quasi-fiscal liabilities.

Vista Energy Buys Equinor Vaca Muerta Assets for $712 Million

Vista Energy has completed a $712 million acquisition of Equinor assets at Bandurria Sur and Bajo del Toro, expanding its Vaca Muerta production base and increasing its exposure to export markets.

YPF Sells Metrogas Stake to Edenor for $780 Million

State-controlled YPF has sold its majority stake in Argentina’s largest gas distributor to Edenor for $780 million, redirecting capital toward unconventional shale production in Neuquén.

Argentina Monthly Inflation Holds at 2.1% as Government Defends Disinflation Strategy

Argentina’s statistics agency reported monthly inflation of 2.1%, reinforcing the Milei administration’s stabilization narrative while price pressures persist in seasonal services and regulated utilities.

Asian Refiners Turn to Argentine Crude as Middle East Supply Risks Disrupt Oil Trade

Refiners in Japan, South Korea and China are increasing purchases of Medanito crude from Argentina’s Vaca Muerta basin as conflict-related risks and shipping bottlenecks disrupt traditional Middle Eastern supply routes.