Senasa data confirms a sharp drop production and exports due to rain and hail
Poor weather has dealt a severe blow to Argentine cherry exporters this season. Data from plant health authority Senasa shows that shipments during the last quarter of 2025 totalled just 3,760 tonnes – 38 per cent down on last year and 19 per cent below the five-year average.
This puts the sector on course for its worst season since 2019, when exports in the last quarter reached approximately 3,470 tonnes.
Hopes were high at the start of the campaign, with a good quality crop putting shipments on course to exceed last year’s 8,100-tonne total by 8-12 per cent, consolidating the growth seen in recent years. However, a series of severe rain and hailstorms in the ensuing weeks caused extensive damage to a large part of the crop in the main producing areas, forcing a significant portion to be redirected to the domestic market.
In addition to the overall drop in volumes, the 2025/26 season is clearly showing a shift in markets. During the last quarter of 2024, China was the leading destination for Argentine cherries, accounting for 36 per cent of total shipments, while the US was in second place with 30 per cent. However, in the corresponding period of 2025, the US became the top destination with 36 per cent of exports, while China’s share fell to 26 per cent.
