Yerba mate crisis: record-low harvest and an uncertain future for producers

The yerba mate harvest has fallen to historic lows, and producers are warning of a collapse in the sector. The price crisis halted the harvest during the first quarter of 2025. According to preliminary industry data, production fell by more than 30% compared to the same period last year.

The crisis is hitting hard in Misiones and Corrientes, the provinces with the largest concentration of crops, where producers decided not to harvest due to an unviable economic situation. Loaded trucks are no longer visible on the roads, and many farms remain idle.

Misiones agricultural producer representative Cristian Klingbeil warned Ámbito that this situation was predictable, as "the time would come when people would choose not to harvest because they have nothing left. There's no movement, no yerba mate circulating, and these aren't just statistics. This is what we see every day."

The producers decided to leave the plant unharvested rather than face a campaign with guaranteed losses. "If the leaves aren't profitable and also expose you to labor problems, why take the risk? The plant recovers better if you leave it alone, so the drop in production delivered to the dryers is evident," he added.

The root of the problem is that the price producers receive for the green leaf doesn't cover operating costs. In many cases, deals are closed for prices between $230 and $250 per kilo, with terms of 60 to 90 days. Some buyers offer 300 pesos, but on the condition of paying in 12 interest-free installments.

The decline in the harvest is compounded by another worrying fact: the decline in exports. Argentine yerba mate has lost ground in international markets to competitors such as Brazil and Paraguay. According to industry estimates, foreign sales have fallen by 15 to 16% so far this year.

The dollar-denominated price tag leaves export industries out of competition. According to Klingbeil, "with local inflation, exports become more expensive while our neighbors maintain more stable prices and an orderly economy. We lose markets because we can't sustain a competitive cost structure."