Argentina's election season has dramatically changed the agricultural landscape in the country, one of the world's breadbaskets. Exporters are now more confident than ever that profits will soar next year, creating a short term impact of plunging sales abroad and reduced cash-flow in the Argentine Central Bank’s coffers, although that could change in 2016.
Argentine farmers have taken sides decisively ahead of events leading to the presidential election in October and the primaries next weekend. At the opening of the country's major Palermo agriculture show in Buenos Aires, the head of the Argentine Rural Society Luis Etchevehere called on his fellow citizens to avoid supporting “democratically elected leaders but intoxicated with authoritarianism” and “populist adventures”.
For a third year in a row the United States will be the top wheat supplier for Brazil, displacing Argentina from its historic position, according to the latest release from Brazilian consultancy Trigo & Farinhas. This piece of information is significant given the world prices for grains and wheat planting prospects in South America.
Argentine farmers have stockpiled more than twice as many soybeans this year than in 2014 defying a government desperate to increase export tax revenue needed to finance rising state spending ahead of the October presidential election.
Argentine president Cristina Fernandez, on the campaign trail ahead of October’s national elections, announced on Monday the creation of a new fund which will reduce by up to 50% the 'retention' taxes on exportation rights paid by small and medium agriculture farmers.
Argentine farmer organizations lashed back at Agriculture minister Carlos Casaquimela who questioned a three-day strike announced for next week to protest government policies, and which he described as 'unjustifiable'.
Argentine farmers exported more than 300 million dollars worth of grains and oilseeds in the last two days of 2014 to help bring in much needed cash for the nation’s central bank. The situation was boosted by an agreement reached between farmers and the Argentine government regarding foreign currency payment for the grains and oilseed.
Argentine grain exports will total US$5.7 billion in the fourth quarter of the calendar year, the CIARA and CEC chambers promised on Wednesday, after seemingly successful negotiations with the government of President Cristina Fernandez that is eager to inject much-needed export dollars into the economy.
The Argentine 2015 presidential campaign has reached the Falkland Islands. Presidential hopeful and former Vice-president Julio Cleto Cobos is currently visiting the Falklands where he arrived on Saturday on the Lan Chile weekly flight and will spend the rest of the week in the Islands.
The Argentine Central Bank, starved of dollars and declining international reserves started to trade new short-term dollar-denominate bonds in order to encourage the farm sector to sell the crops they are still holding on to. It is estimated that over 3bn dollars in mainly soybeans remain in the hands of farmers and cereal exporters.