But those exports started to slump in January when the new coronavirus began spreading in China, a major trade partner. Argentine exports in February were down 35 percent against the same month in 2019, the state statistics institute said. Horacio Fragola runs Farm Products, a company that exports special grains from peas, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, pisingallo corn and beans. His business, which exports 4,000 tons (tonnes) a month to 80 countries, has suffered since Argentina went into lockdown on March 20. "Here there's no lack of food but it would be suicide for the Argentine economy to stop exporting," said Victores.

Source: Bangkok Post April 09, 2020 01:41 UTC