China and Argentina
The relationship encompasses trade, financing and technology cooperation. The comprehensive strategic partnership was established in 2014. Historical documents show scientific and diplomatic projects, but a proposal for international participation must not be confused with membership actually taken up.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07A partnership since 2014
In July 2024, Argentina marked ten years of comprehensive strategic partnership with China.
Civil nuclear technology and space cooperation
Argentina's foreign ministry documented cooperation in nuclear medicine, radioisotopes and space matters, alongside business instruments such as SPIC–INVAP.
Economic data alongside the background
The 2024 commemoration confirms the origin of the strategic framework; the 2025 customs values provide a subsequent observation of trade.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 23,533.01 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN |
| Goods: China to Argentina | 14,453.97 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN |
| Goods: Argentina to China | 9,079.04 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: China to Argentina | 0.38 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN |
| Export share: Argentina to China | ||
| Investment stock: China in Argentina | ||
| Investment stock: Argentina in China |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN · Goods; full year; CHN reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: China to Argentina
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN · Goods; full year; CHN reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: Argentina to China
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN · Goods; full year; CHN reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Export share: China to Argentina
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / CHN · Goods share: CHN exports to the partner / the same reporter's exports to the world, same year.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | China | Argentina |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 19.5 trillion USD2025 · WB | 683.1 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 13,861.97 USD2025 · WB | 14,898.09 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 4.96 %2025 · WB | 4.37 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 1.4 %2026-09-24 · PBoC | No single rate · BCRA |
| Inflation · annual average | 0.06 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 41.9 %IMF est.Annual average · 2025 · IMF |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 0.8 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · NBS China | 33.5 %Year-on-year · Aug. 2026 · INDEC |
| Unemployment | 4.62 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 7.15 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -7.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -0.4 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 99.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 80.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 3.77 %2025 · WB | -1.11 %2025 · WB |
| Population | 1,406,585,0002025 · WB | 45,851,3782025 · WB |
| Area | 9,562,910 km²2023 · BM / FAO | 2,780,400 km²2023 · BM / FAO |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDChina: 2025 · World BankArgentina: 2025 · World Bank
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personChina: 2025 · World BankArgentina: 2025 · World Bank
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)China: 2025 · World BankArgentina: 2025 · World Bank
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)China: 2026-09-24 · PBoC: 7-day reverse repo · People’s Bank of China · Published: 2026-09-24 · Rate of the official operation consulted, not the mortgage LPR or the PSL lending rate. Subsequent operations with zero volume are not converted into a 0% interest rate.Argentina: The BCRA abandoned the concept of a single monetary-policy rate under the new monetary-aggregates framework. It is not replaced with TAMAR, BADLAR, court interest rates or the last historical rate. · Central Bank of the Argentine Republic
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)China: 2025 · Average annual CPI change (%) · World BankArgentina: 2025 · Annual average change in headline CPI (%) · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est. · WEO estimate; not the year-on-year change for December or August 2026. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedChina: 2026-08 · Headline CPI change relative to the same month of the previous year (%) · National Bureau of Statistics of China · Published: 2026-09-09 · National headline year-on-year CPI, not monthly inflation or an annual average.Argentina: 2026-08 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Argentina INDEC · Published: 2026-09-10 · Original INDEC national report; replaces the previous link to its social-media publication without changing the value. Not the monthly change (1.7%) or cumulative change (21.3%).
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionChina: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.Argentina: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)China: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Argentina: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)China: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Argentina: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPChina: 2025 · World BankArgentina: 2025 · World Bank
- Population
- PeopleChina: 2025 · World BankArgentina: 2025 · World Bank
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceChina: 2023 · Total area including inland waters; territorial coverage of the source · World Bank · FAOArgentina: 2023 · Total area, including inland waters; source's territorial coverage · World Bank · FAO
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
China to Argentina
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 2,929.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 2,648.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Land vehicles and components | 2,064 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 55.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 52 M USD2025 · Source |
Argentina to China
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Mineral fuels and oils | 482.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 48.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 4.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Land vehicles and components | 3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 0.1 M USD2025 · Source |
Connections between people
Education, work, visits and community connections have their own records and procedures. Residents are not equivalent to annual arrivals, and visits may be repeated. The tables retain dates, definitions and sources to distinguish these connections from business contracts and government decisions. [2]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from China living in Argentina | ||
| Residents from Argentina living in China | ||
| Study and training: China in Argentina | ||
| Study and training: Argentina in China | ||
| Academic stays: China in Argentina | ||
| Academic stays: Argentina in China | ||
| Travel: China to Argentina | ||
| Travel: Argentina to China |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
A partnership since 2014
In July 2024, Argentina marked ten years of comprehensive strategic partnership with China. The framework organises dialogue and cooperation in several fields, not a general military alliance. Its anniversary dates the diplomatic architecture without assuming identical continuity for every project. Visits, contracts and financing mechanisms have their own subsequent decisions and timelines. [1]
Civil nuclear technology and space cooperation
Argentina's foreign ministry documented cooperation in nuclear medicine, radioisotopes and space matters, alongside business instruments such as SPIC–INVAP. These are areas of knowledge and industrial capability, distinct from agricultural or financial trade. The historical document identifies initiatives; it does not confirm full implementation of each facility or allow peaceful nuclear uses to be treated as nuclear weapons agreements. [2]
International proposals and specific agreements
The historical communication on Chinese support for an Argentine candidacy for BRICS describes a proposal at that time. It is not interpreted as evidence of current membership. The relationship also uses bilateral mechanisms and regional channels with their own agendas. Distinguishing candidacy, signing and implementation helps explain how a diplomatic orientation may change while businesses and scientific programmes maintain ties. [2]
The scale of the two economies
China recorded nominal GDP of 19,498 billion USD in 2025, compared with 683.1 in 2025 for Argentina. The reference populations were 1,406.59 million (2025) and 45.85 million (2025), respectively. In the same year, China's nominal GDP was 28.54 times Argentina's. These figures contextualise market size; they do not by themselves describe well-being, individual wealth or political influence. IMF estimates or population extrapolations retain their labels in the table. No ratio is calculated when periods do not match. [4] [5]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Economic data alongside the background
The 2024 commemoration confirms the origin of the strategic framework; the 2025 customs values provide a subsequent observation of trade. Both directions are shown, and the total is not derived from announced project figures. Understanding the relationship benefits from combining institutional mechanisms, resources and technology, without turning trade growth into evidence that every agreement has been implemented. [1]
Observed economic exchange
In 2025, recorded goods trade between China and Argentina totalled 23,533 million USD. Shipments from China to Argentina were 14,454 million USD; those in the reverse direction were 9,079 million USD. China's shipments to the partner represented 0.38% of its goods exports to the world, using the same year and reporter. A single customs reporting source is used for both directions. This annual flow does not include all services activity or affiliates' local sales and is not added to accumulated investment capital. [3]
Milestones and consequences
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Each figure retains its period, unit, definition and source. Announcements, contracts and results are not interchangeable. Empty cells do not mean zero. Customs data for 2025 are not presented as activity observed during later crises.
- Ten years of comprehensive strategic partnership
Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Institutional source · Document: 2024-07-18 · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Bilateral agenda and technology cooperation
Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 156; partners 0,826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-09-17
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-06
- HS2 27; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 30; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 84; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 85; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- HS2 87; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods
UN Comtrade / CHN · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade / CHN
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 27; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / CHN
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 84; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / CHN
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 85; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / CHN
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 87; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods.
- UN Comtrade / CHN
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · HS2 30; 2025; reporter 156; partners 826,380,124,484,76,32,710,231,364,818,784,410; X/M; annual goods.