Argentina, located far away in South America, is accelerating its pace of infrastructure and mineral development through the import of equipment. According to the latest customs data released by Interact Analysis, an international data agency, in the first three quarters of 2025, the construction machinery market in Argentina exhibited a significant import-oriented characteristic, with both excavator and loader imports experiencing substantial year-on-year growth. Among them, equipment manufactured in China and Brazil jointly dominated the import market, while the scale of local exports was relatively limited, mainly flowing to neighboring countries.

Obvious import dependence and considerable market volume

From January to September 2025, the import and export market volume of construction machinery in Argentina was considerable, with imports significantly exceeding exports. Specifically, the total import and export volume of excavators exceeded 800 units, with a total value approaching $120 million. Meanwhile, the market for loaders was even larger, with a total import and export volume nearing 2,400 units and a total value exceeding $300 million, nearly three times the total volume of the excavator market.

In terms of exports, the scale is quite small. During the same period, Argentina exported less than 10 excavators, with a total value exceeding $1.3 million, all of which were sold to neighboring Paraguay and Uruguay. The situation with loader exports is similar, with the number not exceeding 10 units, almost all of which went to Brazil and Paraguay.

Chinese excavators account for half of the market share

In the excavator sector, Argentina has exhibited robust import demand. In the first three quarters, its excavator imports surpassed 800 units, marking a surge of over 140% compared to the same period in 2024; the import value exceeded USD 110 million, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 70%.

From the perspective of supplying countries, China is the largest source of excavators for Argentina. Both in terms of import quantity and value, Chinese equipment accounts for more than half of Argentina's total excavator imports. Brazil follows closely behind, with both quantity and value accounting for more than 30%. Specifically, in terms of brand, the top three importers in terms of quantity are Caterpillar, Komatsu, and John Deere, accounting for more than 30% of the total; while the top three importers in terms of value are Caterpillar, Komatsu, and Zoomlion, accounting for more than 40% of the total.

Loader market: China and Brazil contribute over 70% of the total market share

The loader market has also experienced rapid growth. In the first three quarters of 2025, Argentina imported nearly 2,400 loaders, marking a year-on-year increase of over 150%; the import value exceeded US$300 million, up nearly 110% year-on-year. Keywords: Southeast Asia News, Southeast Asia International News

China and Brazil are also firmly positioned as the top two suppliers, together contributing over 70% of imports. Specifically, Chinese equipment accounts for over 40% of the total, while Brazilian equipment accounts for over 30%. In terms of import value, China contributes nearly half, while Brazil contributes nearly 30%. The brand landscape is relatively fragmented: the top three brands in terms of import volume are John Deere, Caterpillar, and JCB, with a combined share of over 30%; the top three brands in terms of import value are John Deere, Caterpillar, and Bobcat, with a combined share of nearly 30%.

Overall, construction machinery products from China and Brazil dominate the Argentine market, reflecting the South American market's deep reliance on cost-effective equipment and regional supply chains. This also serves as a compelling testament to the global expansion strategy of China's construction machinery industry. Edited by Yang Beihua