Export crops, farmland, and agri-tech across fertile regions
LATAM South is a global food production powerhouse. Argentina is the world's largest soybean meal exporter and a top beef producer, with 54% of its land dedicated to agriculture. Peru is setting agricultural export records, surpassing USD 12 billion in 2024. Chile's food and agricultural sector accounts for 25% of total exports at USD 25.3 billion. Colombia is the world's third-largest coffee producer and second-largest flower exporter. Together, these four countries offer diversified exposure to agricultural commodities, farmland, water assets, and agri-tech innovation.
For European investors, the agricultural sector presents both direct investment opportunities in production assets and strategic portfolio diversification through exposure to hard assets with fundamental supply-demand drivers. Climate resilience, water security, and technological adoption are key themes shaping the region's agricultural future.
Peru's agro-export sector achieved historic performance with total agricultural exports surpassing USD 12 billion in 2024, a 22% increase from 2023, and is on track to reach USD 14 billion in 2025. Blueberries lead the portfolio with 300,000 tonnes shipped and USD 1.79 billion in revenue (29% volume increase). Avocados are the second-largest product, with over 877,000 tonnes exported valued at USD 1.6 billion (42% volume increase). Peru's diversified agricultural base now features nearly 15 products each exceeding USD 100 million in exports.
The United States absorbs 33% of Peru's agricultural exports (approximately USD 3.6 billion). Other major markets include the Netherlands (14%), Spain, and growing demand from Asia. Key crops include asparagus, coffee, grapes, mangoes, and cacao. Major agro-exporters like Camposol, Danper Trujillo, and Complejo Agroindustrial Beta are scaling operations. Investment opportunities include farmland acquisition, irrigation infrastructure (linked to ProInversion PPPs), cold chain logistics, and precision agriculture technology.
Sources: Fresh Fruit Portal; USDA FAS Peru Reports; Agronometrics; Haul Produce Peru Export Analysis.
Chile's agricultural and food sector accounts for approximately 25% of total exports (USD 25.3 billion in 2024) and 8% of GDP. The food processing industry generates USD 23.3 billion annually, with 46% of total food production exported to over 180 countries. Salmon and trout are Chile's most important non-mining export product, with USD 6.55 billion in exports in 2025 (3% increase). Chile is the world's second-largest salmon producer after Norway.
Fresh fruit exports are booming: blueberries and avocados are experiencing growth fueled by health-conscious markets in Asia and the EU, while table grapes remain a consistent staple. Premium wines from Maipo, Casablanca, and Colchagua are globally competitive. Over 60% of Chile's fruit exports rely on precision agriculture technologies. Chile benefits from 35 international trade agreements covering 65 markets, providing exceptional market access. Investment opportunities include salmon aquaculture, premium viticulture, fruit production, cold chain infrastructure, and agri-tech innovation, particularly in water management and precision farming.
Sources: U.S. Trade.gov Chile Agricultural Sector; Seafood Source; Farmonaut Chile Agriculture 2025; Renub Research.
Colombia's agricultural sector contributes 9.3% to GDP and is a crucial employer in rural areas. Coffee is a cornerstone: production reached 14.8 million 60-kg bags in 2024/25 (12% increase), with exports of 13.4 million bags. Approximately 40% is specialty coffee commanding premium prices. Coffee exports grew USD 418.6 million (86%) in the first two months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The United States absorbs nearly 40% of Colombia's coffee exports.
Flowers are Colombia's second major agricultural export, valued at USD 2.4 billion in 2025 (4.9% of total exports), making it the world's second-largest supplier of cut flowers. Palm oil exports have surged 64.4% to USD 1.3 billion, with production area quadrupling since 1993. Fruits and nuts are a fast-growing segment at USD 2.2 billion (20.9% increase). Overall agricultural exports reached USD 2.287 billion in January-February 2025 alone (29.6% increase). Colombia faces the EU's new traceability and anti-deforestation standards from December 2025, requiring supply chain adaptation.
Sources: USDA FAS Colombia Coffee Report; Finance Colombia; World's Top Exports; Chambers Practice Guides; TradeImeX.
Argentina is one of the world's most important agricultural nations, with approximately 54% of land dedicated to agriculture and total agricultural and food exports of USD 47.1 billion in 2024. The country is the world's largest soybean meal exporter (35-42% global share), a top-five beef producer, and among the largest exporters of corn, wheat, and sunflower products. Soybean production reached 48.5 million tonnes in 2024/25, with cereals accounting for USD 10.1 billion in exports, edible fats and oils USD 7.2 billion, and beef USD 3.4 billion.
The Pampas region is the primary agricultural zone, though growth is shifting toward yield optimization due to limited horizontal expansion. Export taxes on soybeans were temporarily reduced from 31% to 24.5% (and other cereals from 12% to 9.5%) through June 2025 to boost competitiveness. Precision agriculture is accelerating, supported by World Bank Climate-Smart Agri-Food Systems funding and tariff reductions on high-tech machinery. The agricultural market is projected to grow from USD 27.2 billion in 2025 to USD 35.4 billion by 2031 (CAGR 4.5%). Climate volatility, particularly La Nina-induced dryness, remains a risk factor. Investment opportunities include farmland, grain trading, beef production, agri-tech, and value-added processing.
Sources: OECD Agricultural Policy Monitoring 2025; Mordor Intelligence Argentina Agriculture; TradeImeX Argentina Food Exports; CEIC Data; Wikipedia Agriculture in Argentina.
Agricultural investment opportunities across LATAM South include:
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