Crude oil became Argentina’s leading export during the first half of 2026, overtaking traditional agricultural products to top the country’s export rankings. According to research center Instituto Argentina Grande (IAG), crude oil accounted for 9.5% of Argentina’s total exports in the first half of the year. The shift in Argentina’s export rankings marks a milestone for the economy. While agriculture remains central to the country’s export sector, crude oil has now become the single largest export product, reflecting the expansion of the Vaca Muerta oil and gas field in Patagonia and growing investment in infrastructure to increase shale oil exports. Crude accounts for more than 70% of energy exportsCrude oil dominated Argentina’s energy exports, accounting for 71.2% of the sector’s foreign sales.