Located mostly in the southern cone-shaped portion of South America, the Argentine Republic spent US$60.8 billion on imported products from around the world in 2024.

That dollar amount results from a 43.6% increase compared to $42.4 billion five years earlier during 2020.

From 2023 to 2024, the overall cost of Argentina’s imported goods dropped -17.5% starting from $73.7 billion.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, the Argentine peso depreciated by -71.2% against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. Argentina’s weaker local currency makes its imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from the Argentine peso.

Domestically, Argentina’s inflation rate for consumer prices during 2024 averaged a formidable 229.8% soaring from 133.5% in 2023.

From a continental perspective, over a third (34.4%) of Argentina’s total imports by value in 2024 was purchased from Latin America excluding Mexico. Trade partners in Asia supplied 32.4% worth. Another 16.7% came from Europe and 14.4% originated from North America.

Tinier percentages were furnished by suppliers in Africa (1.6%) and Oceania (0.5%) mostly Australia and New Zealand.

Given Argentina’s population of 47.2 million people, its total $60.8 billion in 2024 imports translates to roughly $1,300 in yearly product demand from every person in the South American country. That per-capita dollar amount lags the average $1,500 for Argentina in 2023.

Argentina’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Argentina’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Argentina.

1. Machinery including computers: US$9.7 billion (15.9% of total imports)
2. Vehicles: $9 billion (14.7%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $6.1 billion (10.1%)
4. Mineral fuels including oil: $3.8 billion (6.2%)
5. Oil seeds: $3.3 billion (5.5%)
6. Organic chemicals: $3 billion (4.9%)
7. Plastics, plastic articles: $2.7 billion (4.4%)
8. Pharmaceuticals: $2.5 billion (4.1%)
9. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $1.8 billion (3%)
10. Other chemical goods: $1.6 billion (2.6%)

The top 10 product categories exceeded two-thirds (71.4%) of total import spending by buyers in Argentina.

The fastest grower among Argentina’s top import product categories were vehicles, thanks to a 9.3% increase from 2023 to 2024.

The other increase was for imports of miscellaneous chemical goods (up 4.4%).

Leading the decliners year over year were Argentine imports of mineral fuels including oil (down -51.2% from 2023), oil seeds (down -41.7%) then electrical machinery and equipment (down -24.7%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level.

At the more detailed 4-digit HTS code level, Argentina’s most valuable imported are automobile parts or accessories (7.6% of total), soya beans (5.3%), cars (4.7%), refined petroleum oils (2.6%), phone devices including smartphones (2.4%), petroleum gases (2.1%), blood fractions including antisera (1.9%), medication mixes in dosage (1.8%), trucks (1.5%) and fertilizer mixes (1.4%).

Argentina’s Top Machinery Imports Including Computers

In 2024, Argentine importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Engines (diesel): US$685.9 million (down -17.1% from 2023)
2. Computers, optical readers: $682.3 million (down -24.8%)
3. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $611.2 million (up 10.5%)
4. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $560.9 million (down -19.2%)
5. Air or vacuum pumps: $495.5 million (down -11.1%)
6. Piston engine parts: $467.8 million (down -5.2%)
7. Liquid pumps and elevators: $452.9 million (up 1.5%)
8. Turbo-jets: $391.5 million (up 62.5%)
9. Miscellaneous machinery: $390.2 million (down -16.3%)
10. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $378.7 million (up 5.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Argentine purchases of turbo-jets (up 62.5%), taps, valves and similar appliances (up 10.5%) then transmission shafts, gears and clutches (up 5.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of machinery-related imports among Argentine businesses and consumers.

Argentina’s Top Vehicles Imports

In 2024, Argentine importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Automobile parts/accessories: US$3.7 billion (down -15.6% from 2023)
2. Cars: $2.9 billion (up 55.3%)
3. Trucks: $942.4 million (up 52%)
4. Tractors: $523.9 million (up 62.4%)
5. Motorcycles: $442.3 million (down -9.3%)
6. Chassis fitted with engine: $132.4 million (up 20.7%)
7. Automobile bodies: $102.1 million (down -31%)
8. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $97.4 million (down -27%)
9. Public-transport vehicles: $59.7 million (up 8.7%)
10. Special purpose vehicles: $47.3 million (up 2.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Argentine purchases of tractors (up 62.4%), cars (up 55.3%) then trucks (up 52.0%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of vehicles-related imports among Argentine businesses and consumers.

Argentina’s Top Electronics Imports

In 2024, Argentine importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical goods including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$1.5 billion (down -38.5% from 2023)
2. Insulated wire/cable: $538.7 million (down -13.4%)
3. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $344.6 million (down -4.8%)
4. Electrical converters/power units: $305 million (down -2.5%)
5. Electrical lighting/signaling equpment, defrosters: $261.9 million (down -10.1%)
6. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $235.6 million (down -6.2%)
7. Electric generating sets, converters: $227.4 million (down -32.9%)
8. Electric motors, generators: $223.6 million (down -7.8%)
9. Electric storage batteries: $212.5 million (down -22.7%)
10. Flat panel displays: $189 million (2023 data unavailable)

Among these import subcategories, Argentine purchases of electrical converters and power units (down -2.5%) then lower-voltage switches and fuses (down -4.8%) retreated at the slowest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of electronics-related imports among Argentine businesses and consumers.

Argentina’s Top Mineral Fuels Imports Including Oil

In 2024, Argentine importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$1.6 billion (down -56.1% from 2023)
2. Petroleum gases: $1.3 billion (down -52.8%)
3. Electrical energy: $517.6 million (down -38.1%)
4. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $225.2 million (down -27%)
5. Coke, semi-coke: $77.5 million (down -35.5%)
6. Petroleum oil residues: $46.3 million (down -58.7%)
7. Tar pitch, coke: $45.9 million (down -25.1%)
8. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $24.8 million (down -46.3%)
9. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $15.3 million (down -27.5%)
10. Peat: $1.5 million (up 26.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Argentine purchases of peat (up 26.9%) grew from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among Argentine businesses and consumers.
 

See also Argentina’s Top Trading Partners, Argentina’s Top 10 Exports and Top South American Export Countries

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on October 10, 2025

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on October 10, 2025

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on October 10, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 10, 2025