Morocco, Egypt and Algeria are deepening their trade relationship with Argentina as disruptions to Ukrainian grain supplies reshape the global maize market.
Argentine maize shipments to North Africa rose 45 per cent in the first seven months of 2026 to 6.5 million tonnes, as buyers sought alternatives to supplies traditionally sourced from the Black Sea region.
Morocco recorded the sharpest increase, with imports of Argentine maize rising 133 per cent year-on-year to 1.55 million tonnes.
Egypt imported 2.4 million tonnes, an increase of 48 per cent, while Algerian purchases increased 10 per cent to 2.4 million tonnes.
The shift has been driven partly by the disruption of Ukrainian exports following attacks on infrastructure around the country’s Black Sea ports.
Ukraine has been forced to rely more heavily on alternative export routes, while drought and low water levels on the Danube have added further pressure to grain logistics.
Argentina is taking advantage of the gap.
The country is harvesting an estimated 71.7 million tonnes of maize in the 2025/26 season, almost 20 per cent above its previous record. Exporters expect shipments during August and September alone to reach about 10 million tonnes.
For North African importers, the development offers greater diversification of food-supply chains.
For Argentina, it creates an opportunity to establish deeper and potentially long-term commercial relationships with some of Africa’s largest grain markets.
The trade shift also highlights the strategic importance of food security and logistics.
North African economies will increasingly need diversified sources of cereals as climate shocks, geopolitical conflicts and transport disruptions affect traditional supply routes.
For investors, opportunities could emerge in grain storage, shipping, commodity finance, processing and agricultural logistics connecting Argentina with African markets.
The immediate driver is a global grain disruption. But the resulting trade relationships could become more permanent if Argentine suppliers remain competitive on price, quality and reliability.
