Argentina sees lithium and copper exports at $32.7B in 10 years

Reuters | May 6, 2026 | 7:31 am Critical Minerals Latin America Copper Lithium

Lithium extraction in Salinas Grandes, Jujuy, Argentina. Stock image.

Argentina expects to export lithium worth $12.1 billion and copper worth $20.6 billion in 10 years, mining minister Luis Lucero told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

The total value of mining projects approved and submitted to the country’s Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI) amounts to $50.692 billion, Lucero added.

RIGI, launched under President Javier Milei, has helped Argentina attract investments from mining giants like BHP and Rio Tinto as the government aims to make mining a key sector in the country alongside energy and agriculture.

Mining exports are growing increasingly fast in the country and are expected to jump 49% already in 2026, Roberto Cacciola, president of the Argentine Chamber of Mining Companies, said earlier this week.

(By Lucila Sigal and Aida Pelaez-Fernandez)