| Work Detail |
During the series Current Situation and Agriculture, an Economic and Political Perspective, organized by La Voz in Córdoba, economic, political, and agroindustrial specialists agreed that infrastructure remains a pending issue for the sectors development. Within this framework, it was projected that grain production in Argentina could double in the next decade, reaching 260 million tons, if improvements are made to land routes, waterways, and logistics systems. One of the most critical points raised was the impact of congestion on access to Greater Rosario, the countrys main agroindustrial export hub. According to World Bank data cited by the Rosario Stock Exchange, this logistical bottleneck generates an additional cost of $8.1 per ton, equivalent to between 10% and 13% of the FAS logistics cost for soybeans. It is estimated that solving this problem would allow for annual savings of approximately $450 million. Julio Calzada, chief economist at the Rosario Stock Exchange, emphasized that all the inefficiencies in infrastructure are ultimately paid for by producers in the prices they receive. Currently, 55 million tons of grain enter the Greater Rosario port complex by truck and only 4 million by rail, underscoring the need to diversify and modernize transportation. The macroeconomic context was also a key focus of the analysis. Economists Daniel Artana and Pablo Adreani warned of the challenges producers face in the face of an exchange rate they described as a lead lifeline and the risk of rising export taxes. They also highlighted that the sectors profitability is compromised by the cost of inputs, leases, and the decline in international commodity prices. Silvia Fiant, from the Córdoba Grain Exchange, reported that the province would reach a record wheat planting of 1.75 million hectares, thanks to favorable weather conditions. However, she warned that margins will remain tight, prompting some producers to consider cover crops as an alternative. The series will continue with three more meetings in 2025, addressing topics such as biofuels (June), investment in agriculture (August), and the Vaca Muerta and Vaca Viva development models (October), with the aim of continuing to articulate technical analysis with the national political and economic context. |
