Peanut production is a key regional activity in the central province of Córdoba. The activity in this province includes primary production, industrial processing and exports. Córdoba is known for its peanuts quality worldwide, as for the cutting-edge technology applied to the production, the industrialization and the conditioning of peanuts. According the Argentine Chamber of Peanuts (CAM – Cámara Argentina de Maní), local peanut sector consist on 21 agro-export companies. Most of them are SMEs and national capital cooperatives, and there are only two foreign capital firms. Four large companies' exports make up 50% of the sector's total exports, nine medium-sized companies represent 39% and the remaining 11% correspond to eleven small companies. Peanuts sector employs, directly and indirectly, about 12,000 people in Códoba and it is essential for the province's economic development. Peanut complex in Argentina stands out as an efficiently integrated sector, where primary producers cope with industries and exporters in a very effective way, forming a successful chain. Peanut producers are associated in cooperatives that own industrial plants and export operators, or have deals with industrial companies. This type of organization promotes a standardized-processes production that ensures a high quality product that meets international standards. Furthermore, through different processes applied wastes, such as peanut shells, it has been possible generate electrical energy and PAC. Therefore, the peanut sector does not only originate products with added value but it also reduces pollution and contributes to sustainable development. Production Peanut harvest in Argentina was strongly affected by the drought that also cut other coarse crops yields. According to CAM data, the production of peanut fell by 26% in 2017/18 if compared to the previous cycle. Yields fell by 29.4%, from 23.1 qq/ha to 16.3 qq/ha, in a cycle where planted area grew by 5.2%. The Argentine Chamber of Peanuts estimates a 16% reduction in peanut-planted area in the next cycle (from 423,000 hectares to 355,000). The poor results of 2017/18 crop, together with the introduction of further export duties, as well as the limited access to financing sources, explain peanuts current decrease according to the CAM. Exports In recent years, peanuts average national production was 1.05 million tons, 95% of which is exported, 50% to the European community and the other 50% to a hundred other countries. The large exportable balance responds to a low level of domestic consumption. Argentines consume only about 400 grams of peanut a year, well below the 5kg per capita consumption in traditional peanut-consuming countries such as the Netherlands.
Argentina has consolidated itself as the world's leading exporter of quality peanuts, being snacks industry the primary destination of national peanuts. Since 2007, Cordoba's peanut products have been exported under "Maní de Córdoba" merchandise mark, which guaranties premium quality. In addition to China, other peanut producing countries such as the US, India, South Africa, Mexico, Turkey, Brazil, Egypt and Australia are increasingly demanding Argentine peanuts for their gourmet niches. Peanut by-products were the seventh most relevant products among Argentine Food and Beverages exports (in US$), representing 1.8% of the total.
