Plastic waste exports in Argentina
Argentina: Plastic waste exports was 3,050 tonnes in 2017. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Argentina, 1993–2017
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2017, plastic waste exports in Argentina stood at 3,050 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 48.1% on the previous year and down 94.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Argentina peaked at 53,698 tonnes in 2007 and was at its lowest, 461.82 tonnes, in 1993.
That places Argentina 73rd out of 167 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Argentina, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 461.82 tonnes | — |
| 1994 | 720.94 tonnes | +56.1% |
| 1995 | 5,107 tonnes | +608.4% |
| 1996 | 1,358 tonnes | -73.4% |
| 1997 | 1,756 tonnes | +29.3% |
| 1998 | 1,339 tonnes | -23.7% |
| 1999 | 3,297 tonnes | +146.3% |
| 2000 | 4,714 tonnes | +42.9% |
| 2001 | 3,147 tonnes | -33.2% |
| 2002 | 1,254 tonnes | -60.1% |
| 2003 | 3,296 tonnes | +162.8% |
| 2004 | 15,097 tonnes | +358.0% |
| 2005 | 35,076 tonnes | +132.3% |
| 2006 | 46,106 tonnes | +31.4% |
| 2007 | 53,698 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 2008 | 52,840 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 40,086 tonnes | -24.1% |
| 2010 | 37,550 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 2011 | 36,601 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 25,958 tonnes | -29.1% |
| 2013 | 19,488 tonnes | -24.9% |
| 2014 | 15,148 tonnes | -22.3% |
| 2015 | 10,035 tonnes | -33.8% |
| 2016 | 5,880 tonnes | -41.4% |
| 2017 | 3,050 tonnes | -48.1% |
Argentina compared with similar countries
- Argentina's 3,050 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 2.9× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Argentina's 3,050 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,293 tonnes, 2.4× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Argentina changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +608.4% | 720.94 tonnes | 5,107 tonnes |
| 2004 | +358.0% | 3,296 tonnes | 15,097 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2,006 tonnes | 461.82 tonnes | 5,107 tonnes | 7 |
| 2000s | 25,532 tonnes | 1,254 tonnes | 53,698 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,214 tonnes | 3,050 tonnes | 37,550 tonnes | 8 |
Countries ranked near Argentina
More environment data for Argentina
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -5.89 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -4.78 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.306 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.03 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.8814 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.8286 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Argentina?
- Plastic waste exports in Argentina was 3,050 tonnes in 2017, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Argentina?
- The highest recorded value was 53,698 tonnes in 2007.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Argentina?
- The lowest recorded value was 461.82 tonnes in 1993.
- How does Argentina rank for plastic waste exports?
- Argentina ranks 73rd out of 167 countries with data for 2017.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Argentina?
- Over the last ten years it is down 94.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Argentina data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.