Argentina has a unique industrial duality in Latin America: it is part of the Lithium Triangle — alongside Chile and Bolivia — and at the same time hosts one of the largest agri-export complexes on the planet along the Paraná river corridor. This duality defines two completely distinct realities for conveyor belts: the high Andean desert with its thin atmosphere and extreme temperature swings, versus the port complexes and meat plants along the Paraná where throughput speed and hygiene are the critical parameters.
Market figures
- •Lithium: Argentina holds approximately 20% of the world's known lithium reserves. Active projects include Olaroz (Allkem/Toyota Tsusho, Jujuy), Cauchari-Olaroz (Sales de Jujuy/Ganfeng Lithium) and Fénix in Catamarca (Arcadium Lithium, formerly Livent). Production exceeds 35,000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate equivalent — a figure growing rapidly.
- •Soy agro-industry: Argentina is the world's #1 exporter of soy meal and oil. The San Lorenzo-Rosario-San Martín port complex (Gran Rosario, Santa Fe) handles approximately 80% of national soy crushing and is the world's largest agri-export hub by capacity. In non-drought years, national soy output reaches 40–50 million tonnes.
- •Meat industry: Argentina produces around 3 million tonnes of beef per year and exports approximately 700,000–800,000 tonnes. The Buenos Aires-Córdoba-Santa Fe corridor concentrates most industrial slaughtering.
- •Wine: Mendoza and San Juan account for over 90% of national wine production. Argentina is the world's 5th largest wine producer, with output ranging between 12 and 15 million hectolitres per vintage.
Key producing regions:
- –Lithium/mining: NOA — Salta (Salar de Pocitos, Rincón del Litio), Jujuy (Salar de Olaroz), Catamarca (Salar del Hombre Muerto, Fénix project)
- –Gold mining: Santa Cruz (Cerro Negro — AngloGold Ashanti), San Juan (Veladero — Barrick/Shandong)
- –Soy and cereals: Humid Pampas — Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos; Gran Rosario ports
- –Meat and dairy: Buenos Aires-Córdoba-Santa Fe corridor; Humid Pampas
- –Wine: Luján de Cuyo, Maipú, Valle de Uco (Mendoza); Tulum, Ullum, Pedernal (San Juan)
- –Olives/olive oil: Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca
- –Export fruit: Alto Valle del Río Negro (pears, apples); NOA (citrus, avocado)
Products and specific applications in Argentina
Lithium mining in NOA salt flats (3,500–4,200 m above sea level)
Lithium carbonate and hydroxide processing plants on the salt flats use belts in their chemical production lines. Hard-rock lithium projects emerging in Catamarca and San Luis use EP/ST belts for ore transport exactly as any metalliferous mine. The specific challenge is extreme altitude: temperatures drop below -20 °C at night and intense UV radiation is present during the day, requiring ozone-resistant covers. Fuda EP multi-ply belts with grade H+D special cover meet this profile. For maintenance splicing in remote locations, the ComiX ALEX vulcaniser is the standard solution: at 4,000 m where access is vehicle-only, every kilogram of equipment matters.
Gran Rosario soy complex (Santa Fe)
The Gran Rosario export terminals process soy, maize and wheat 24/7 during the campaign season. Grain elevators and dock conveyors require EP 3-4 ply belts with grade L (general use) cover and chevron profiles for inclined transport to silos. The environment is aggressive: hygroscopic soy dust, ambient temperature up to 42 °C in summer and continuous operation with no possibility of stopping the line during the harvest. Belt replacement is always planned during the low-activity window (May-July).
Export slaughterhouses (Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa Fe)
Slaughterhouses with SENASA approval to export to the EU, USA and Israel require homogeneous TPU or PU belts without internal fabric, suitable for hot-water washing at 80-85 °C and alkaline detergents at least twice per shift. Compliance with EU Regulation 853/2004 (hygiene for animal products) applies directly to materials in contact with raw meat. KMB ESM and SOLID TPU belts with a named EU 10/2011 certificate per batch are the correct option for these facilities.
Logistics and import — Argentina
- •Entry ports: Buenos Aires (Dock Sud / Exolgan) for manufactured industrial goods and the interior. Rosario and San Martín ports for agro-industry. Bahía Blanca for the south.
- •Most common Incoterms: CIF Buenos Aires or Rosario for imports from Asia. FOB from supplier for importers with their own freight forwarder. DDP for projects where the buyer needs a delivered price.
- •Transit time: China (Shanghai) → Buenos Aires: ~32-40 days by sea, with possible transshipment in Santos or Montevideo. Spain/Europe → Buenos Aires: ~21-25 days.
- •Customs particularities: Argentina has historically imposed import licensing requirements (SIRA system by period). Rubber belts fall under HS 4010 with the MERCOSUR CET (14%). Exchange rate variability between the official and free markets is a factor in pricing — verify at time of order.
Typical use cases
Lithium carbonate plant at Salar de Olaroz, Jujuy (3,900 m above sea level)
The client needs to replace belts in the LCO processing plant's internal conveyor system. Requirements: EP multi-ply, 800 mm width, grade H cover resistant to lithium chloride brine corrosion and extreme UV. Altitude makes it impossible to carry a conventional vulcaniser (150+ kg) in the maintenance pick-up truck. ComiX ALEX fits in the truck bed and reduces an emergency field splice from 8 hours to 2.
Soy export terminal in San Lorenzo, Santa Fe (Gran Rosario)
An export terminal for soy meal and oil needs to replace grain elevator belts before the campaign. Environment: hygroscopic soy dust, temperatures up to 42 °C, 24/7 operation. Specification: EP 4-ply, 1,000 mm width, grade L + AO (oil resistant) in zones with processed expeller contact. The planned shutdown is in May: a 10-day window for the replacement.
Boutique winery in Valle de Uco, Mendoza
A premium wine estate needs to replace its grape sorting table belt and bottling line belt. The sorting table requires a white PU, 2-ply, FDA, 400 mm wide, smooth, pressure-washable between varietals without splice deformation. The bottling line needs an antistatic PVC belt to guide 750 ml glass bottles without spark risk or label adhesion.