Argentina

Introduction 

In 2024, Argentina was the world’s 23d largest economy and the 3d largest in Latin America after Brazil (10th in the world) and Mexico (13th in the world). Argentina was estimated to be the world’s fourth-ranked producer of diatomite, accounting for 7% of world production, after the United States (29%), Denmark (15%), and France (10%). Argentina was the world’s fifth-ranked producer of lithium (excluding United States production), accounting for 6% of world production, after Australia (37%), Chile (22%), and China (19%), and Zimbabwe (9%). Argentina was also estimated to be the 6th-ranked producer of boron (excluding United States production), and the 11th-ranked producer of silver (3%). Others mineral commodities produced included aluminum, copper (refined, secondary), gold, ferrosilicon, direct-reduced iron, iron ore, pig iron, raw steel, and zinc. Argentina also held significant lithium mineral reserve, accounting for 12% of world reserves, the fourth largest (tied with the United States) in 2024 (Jaskula, 2025, 2026; Brioche, 2026; Crangle, 2026; Hartingh, 2026; World Bank, The, 2026a).    

Following its 2023 raw materials Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the European Union, Argentina expanded its strategic reach in 2024 by signing a critical minerals MOU agreement with the United States. This move was aimed at integrating Argentina into secure battery-mineral supply chains while reducing its reliance on Chinese investment. These partnerships prioritize the development of lithium and copper assets in Argentina and aim to enhance economic benefits for Argentina through European and United States involvement in value-added activities, including battery production. In June, under the framework of the “Ley Bases” (Law 27,742), the Argentine Congress enacted the Large Investment Incentive Regime (known by its Spanish acronym, RIGI) to provide the long-term legal and fiscal certainty essential for large-scale mining and energy ventures (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto, 2023; United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2024; International Trade Association, 2025). 

In 2024, Argentina’s lithium sector reached record production levels, representing a 59% increase compared with those in 2023. The surge was primarily driven by the commissioning of the Centenario-Ratones, Sal de Oro, and Tres Quebradas Mines and the Salar del Cauchari-Olaroz project, which became the nation’s leading operation by reaching 85% of its design capacity by the fourth quarter of 2024. Despite the historic expansion of the lithium sector, gold continued to anchor the country's mineral industry, accounting for about 68% of the country’s total mineral exports for the year (Facilities table; Production table; Dirección Nacional de Promoción y Economía Minera, 2025a, p. 4). 

Minerals in the National Economy 

In 2024, the Argentina’s real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by 1.3%, and country’s nominal GDP was \$638.4 billion. In 2024, the mining and quarrying sector (including hydrocarbons) contributed 3.9% to nominal GDP; the manufacturing sector, 15.3%; and the construction sector, 2.7%. The mining sector continued an 8-year growth trend in employment by adding 618 new jobs, a 1.6% increase. Despite this overall progress, the industry recorded a 4% decline in the industrial minerals employment segment. Employment across the mining sector was distributed among industrial minerals (13,158), metals (12,591), mining services (9,497), and lithium (5,026). Although mining employment in Santa Cruz, Buenos Aires, and Cordoba declined during 2024, the northern Provinces of San Juan, Jujuy, and Salta recorded growth. Salta led this upward trend with a 19% annual increase, driven by its strategic role as one of the three core Provinces in Argentina’s "Lithium Triangle" (Cámara Argentina de Empresas Mineras, 2024, p. 7–8; World Bank, The, 2024a, b; Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos, 2025a, p. 12).  

Following 2023’s historic peak when foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in Argentina hit an all-time high, total FDI in 2024 decreased by 53% to \$11.6 billion, compared with \$24.8 billion in 2023. Spain was the top contributor to FDI in Argentina during the year, with a 22% share, followed by Brazil (21%), the United States (14%), France (11%), and Chile (4%). Mining and quarrying accounted for 17% of Argentina’s 2024 FDI, totaling about \$2.0 billion. These investments were heavily concentrated in the lithium sector, with primary emphasis on raw-material extraction and exploration (Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe, 2025, p. 63–64, 130). 

According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, the global exploration budget for nonferrous metallic minerals decreased to \$12.5 billion in 2024 from \$12.9 billion in 2023. With a focus on base metals, precious metals, and lithium, Argentina was the sixth-ranked nonferrous minerals exploration destination globally and the third-ranked in Latin America after Chile (\$794 million) and Mexico (\$576 million). In 2024, Argentina’s minerals exploration budget increased to \$493 million, compared with \$427 million in 2023. The mining industry's budget for copper exploration totaled \$200 million, or more than 40% of the country’s total exploration budget; the exploration budget for gold totaled \$136 million; lithium, \$127 million; silver, \$28 million; and other minerals, $3 million (SNL Metals & Mining, 2024a, b). 

Government Policies and Programs 

Following the passage of the “Ley Bases” (Law 27,742), the Argentine Congress established the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI). This framework is designed to secure the long-term legal and fiscal stability necessary to attract major capital projects in the energy and mining sectors. Specifically targeting projects exceeding \$200 million, the law guarantees 30 years of regulatory stability, shielding investors from the country’s history of volatile tax, customs, and exchange policies. Key benefits include a reduced corporate income tax rate, declining from 35% to 25%, and the total elimination of import duties on essential capital goods and mining machinery (Ministerio de Justicia, 2024; United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 2024). 

Argentina’s mineral sector is governed by the National Mining Code (Law No. 1919 of 1886), which defines the contractual relationship between the State and private entities through exploration permits and mining concessions. Under this framework, mineral rights are granted in perpetuity, contingent upon the payment of annual canons and continued investment across all project phases. Policy implementation is directed by the Mining Secretariat, while Servicio Geologico Minero Argentino (SEGEMAR) provides the essential geologic, environmental, and technological data required for the sustainable development of the nation’s natural resources (Ministerio de Justicia de la Nación, 2025a, b). More-extensive coverage of the mineral industry of Ecuador can be found in previous editions of the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports—International—Latin America and Canada, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nmic/south-america. 

Production 

Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). 

Structure of the Mineral Industry 

Argentina’s mineral industry was composed of domestic and foreign private and public companies. The individual Provinces are the owners of the natural resources located within their respective territories, and the Federal Mining Code provides the legal framework for agreements between the Government and the entities that partake in mining activities through the issuance of exploration permits or mining concessions. The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities.  

Mineral Trade 

In 2024, Argentina’s estimated total free on-board value of exports increased by 19.4% to \$79.7 billion compared with \$66.8 billion in 2023. The value of Argentina’s imports in 2024, as reported in terms of cost, insurance, and freight arrangements, decreased by 17.5% to \$60.8 billion. Argentina’s estimated leading export partners were Brazil, which received 17% of Argentina’s total exports, followed by the United States and Chile (each 8%), and China (7%). A total of \$11.1 billion (\$9.1 billion in 2023) worth of goods classified as mineral products (including hydrocarbons, base metals and manufactured articles thereof) was exported from Argentina in 2024, which accounted for 14% of the country’s total exported goods, compared with 13.6% in 2023 (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos, 2025b, p. 6, 13, 15). 

In 2024, the value of the country’s mineral exports (not including hydrocarbons) grew 14.4% to \$4.6 billion, primarily driven by the increased demand and production of gold, lithium, and silver. Argentina’s overall leading mineral export partners were Switzerland, which received 35% of Argentina’s total mineral exports, followed by the United States (19%), China (13%), India (11%), and Canada (7%). Gold was the leading mineral export of Argentina, with a value of nearly \$3.1 billion in 2024, followed by silver (\$641 million), and lithium (\$631 million). China was the main destination of Argentina’s lithium exports in 2024, accounting for 67% of total lithium exports, by value; followed by the United States (14%), the Republic of Korea (10%), and Japan (4%) (Dirección Nacional de Promoción y Economía Minera, 2025a, p. 3–4, 7–9).  

Commodity Review 

Aluminum.—In 2024, Aluar Aluminio Argentino S.A.I.C. (Aluar) remained Argentina’s sole primary aluminum producer. Aluar’s production of primary aluminum increased by 4.7% to 443,425 metric tons (t) during fiscal year, which began on July 1, 2023, and ended on June 30, 2024. Argentina’s total aluminum exports reached an all-time high in 2024, generating more than \$1.1 billion in export revenue, accounting for 1.4% of the country’s total export share. Brazil and the United States were the primary destinations for Argentina's aluminum exports, collectively accounting for 77% of their total export value (\$859 million). The United States remained the leading market for Argentine aluminum exports in 2024, accounting for \$531 million of the total, representing a 48% market share (Facilities table; Production table; Aluar Aluminio Argentino S.A.I.C., 2024; Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos, 2025c, p. 3, 14, 17). 

Cement.—In 2024, Argentina’s cement production decreased by 23.9% compared with that in 2023. The country’s shipments of cement were about 9.6 million metric tons (Mt), of which 9.5 Mt went to the domestic market and about 61,000 t was exported. Argentina's per-capita cement consumption decreased to 202 kg in 2024, compared with 268 kg in 2023. The downturn in Argentina’s cement sector during the year was primarily caused by the Federal suspension of public infrastructure projects. The loss of Government funding removed the vital support for cement demand, leading to a market contraction (Production table; Asociación de Fabricantes de Cemento Portland, 2024, p. 10, 17; Cemnet, 2025). 

Copper.—In 2024, Argentina advanced four copper projects toward production. The Josemaría project in San Juan Province, managed by Lundin Mining Corp. of Canada, entered construction with production targeted for 2026 or 2027. Other significant copper project developments included the El Pachón and Mara projects, owned by Glencore plc. of Switzerland, and the Taca Taca project, owned by First Quantum Minerals Ltd. of Canada. These three copper projects are in the feasibility stage of development. According to Government officials, these four projects combined have the potential to contribute approximately 810,000 metric tons per year (t/yr) of copper to global production (Ministerio de Economía, 2023; Dirección Nacional de Promoción y Economía Minera, 2025b, p. 47). 

Diatomite.—In 2024, Sol Minerales y Servicios S.A., located in Río Negro Province, expanded its international footprint by shipping 21 t of diatomite from Jacobacci to Honduras. Using the Pacific Ocean route via Chile allowed the company to bypass Atlantic Ocean delays and gain direct, cost-effective access to Central American trade hubs. During a facility tour in July, Provincial officials highlighted Río Negro’s status as a national leader in the production of diatomite, which is currently exported to major markets including Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the United States. (Diario Once, 2024). 

Gold.—In 2024, gold production in Argentina remained stagnant year-over-year, totaling 40,677 kilograms (kg). Four of the world’s leading gold companies maintained a presence in Argentina: Barrick Gold Corp. of Canada and Shandong Gold Mining Co. Ltd. of China, which jointly operated the Veladero Mine in San Juan Province; Newmont Corp. of the United States, which operated the Cerro Negro Mine in Santa Cruz Province; and AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. of the United States, which operated the Cerro Vanguardia Mine, also in Santa Cruz Province. These companies remained the primary producers of gold in the country. Argentina’s leading gold export partners in 2024 were Switzerland, which received 50% of Argentina’s total gold exports, followed by the United States (26%), India (17%), and Canada (7%) (Facilities table; Production table; Ministerio de Economía, 2025a, p. 17, 26).  

In November, Patagonia Gold Corp. of Canada secured final Provincial approval to commence construction and production at its Calcatreu gold-silver project in Rio Negro Province. The project featured a low-sulfidation epithermal system with surface-level mineralization. Calcatreu’s total measured and indicated gold and silver mineral resources were estimated at 9.84 Mt grading 2.11 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold and 19.8 g/t silver, and inferred resources were estimated at 8.08 Mt at a grade of 1.34 g/t gold and 13.1 g/t silver and contain 10,800 kg of gold and 106,000 kg of silver (Ministerio de Economía, 2025a, p. 23). 

Lithium.—In 2024, Argentina’s lithium carbonate production increased by 67% to 69,515 t compared with 41,610 t in 2023; production of lithium chloride decreased by 9% to 4,541 t compared with 4,976 in 2023. The increase in lithium carbonate production in 2024 was primarily owing to the commencement of operations in June 2023 at the Salar del Cauchari-Olaroz project in Jujuy Province. The project, a joint venture between Lithium Argentina AG, Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. Ltd. of China and Jujuy Energía y Minería Sociedad del Estado (JEMSE), became the country’s largest lithium operation by producing 25,400 t of lithium carbonate and reaching 85% of its design capacity by the final quarter (Lithium Argentina Corp., 2025).  

Several other lithium projects in Argentina, including Centenario-Ratones (ERAMET S.A. of France), and Sal de Oro (POSCO Holdings of the Republic of Korea), transitioned from construction to active production phases in 2024. In July, Centenario-Ratones plant began operations using proprietary direct lithium extraction technology to achieve a 90% lithium yield and reduce production cycles from 18 months to 7 days. The 90% yield of lithium from the brine was a significantly faster extraction process compared to traditional methods, such as evaporation ponds that typically have a 50% lithium yield. According to ERAMET, the plant was designed to produce 24,000 t/yr of battery-grade lithium carbonate during phase 1, enough for 600,000 electric vehicles. In October, POSCO Holdings inaugurated the country’s first lithium hydroxide plant in the General Güemes Industrial Park in Salta Province. Representing an investment of over \$800 million, Sal de Oro had capacity of 25,000 t/yr, specifically targeting the high-end electric vehicle battery market. The project created more than 3,800 jobs and integrated over 60 local suppliers (Facilities table; ERAMET S.A., 2025, p. 1–3; Panorama Minero, 2025). 

Zijin Mining (Group) Co. Ltd. of China, through its subsidiary Liex S.A., reported that it is set to commence lithium carbonate production at its Tres Quebradas project in Catamarca Province. Phase 1 of the Tres Quebradas project is expected to produce 20,000 t/yr of lithium carbonate by the third quarter of 2025. The company planned to implement a phased approach to production, with the second phase expected to increase output by 30,000 t/yr (Zijin Mining (Group) Co. Ltd., 2025, p. 12, 278). 

Silver.—In 2024, silver production in Argentina totaled 703,035 kg, a decrease of 13% compared with that in 2023. The country had several operational silver mines during the year, including seven located in Santa Cruz Province. Three mines prioritized the mining of silver (La Providencia, Puna Operations, and San Jose); nine (Cap-Oeste, Casposo, Cerro Moro, Cerro Negro, Cerro Vanguardia, Don Nicolas, Farallon Negro, Las Calandrias, and Veladero) produced silver as a byproduct of gold mining; and one (Aguilar) produced silver as a tertiary byproduct of zinc mining. With a value of \$652 million, Argentina’s silver exports declined by 6.3% in 2024 compared with that in 2023. China was the primary destination for Argentina’s silver exports during the year, accounting for 25.6% (\$167 million) of the total. Belgium (17.6%), Canada (17.4%), the Republic of Korea (14.2%), Switzerland (7.6%), Chile (4.3%), Germany (4.2%), Japan (3.1%), Finland (2.8%), Bulgaria (1.8%), and Peru (1.3%) were the remaining destinations of silver exports (Facilities table; Production table; Ministerio de Economía, 2025b, p. 21–22, 26).  

According to Government reports, the country’s silver sector was expected to be driven by the commissioning of new projects, most notably the Diablillos project operated by AbraSilver Resources Corp. of Canada, which is located in the Puna region, straddling the border between the Catamarca and Salta Provinces. In December, the company announced that the Diablillos project was targeting a Q2 2026 completion of its Definitive Feasibility Study. Over its 14-year lifespan, the mine was projected to produce an average of 236,000 kilograms per year (kg/yr) of silver and 2,200 kg/yr of gold (AbraSilver Resources Corp., 2024; Ministerio de Economía, 2025b, p. 23, 28). 

Outlook 

Argentina has integrated its mining sector into Western supply chains through strategic partnerships with the United States and European Union, positioning itself as a key supplier for the energy transition. The RIGI regime is expected to act as the primary catalyst for growth, offering 30 years of fiscal stability to unlock capital-intensive copper, lithium, and silver projects. As Argentina’s gold mines age and production peaks, the industry's future lies in large copper projects, where gold remains a valuable secondary byproduct. 

Production table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)

References Cited 

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