Fire in Ezeiza: flames destroyed a warehouse in the southern area
A major incident mobilized firefighters from several barracks early this morning. The causes of the fire that affected industrial facilities are still being investigated
A violent explosion shook the Spegazzini Industrial Complex, located in the Buenos Aires town of Ezeiza, last night, causing multiple deflagrations that startled the residents of the area and unleashed a fire of great magnitude that required the intervention of some 380 firefighters, 70 units and more than 100 additional mobiles.
The incident, which occurred after 9 p.m. on Friday, generated a very broad shock wave that alerted the residents of the Buenos Aires city, who heard a loud rumble. More than 20 people were injured, of which only one man over 50 years of age remains in intensive care after suffering a heart attack.
Chaos and mass evacuation
The mayor of Ezeiza, Gastón Granados, described the scene as chaotic to the local media. "It's all very confusing, there was a strong explosion in the Spegazzini industrial estate. We are working to put out the fire and then to see what happened," he said, adding that "the windows of my house and the neighborhood exploded."
The authorities proceeded to preventively evacuate the families in the vicinity due to the magnitude of the fire and the risk of new explosions. The Buenos Aires Ministry of Health activated the red code in all hospitals in the region and issued a series of health recommendations for the population.
Companies affected and substances involved
Among the factories affected is a chemical plant where warehouses with products linked to agriculture and fertilization were set on fire, as well as Plásticos Lagos, a plastic packaging company. The companies affected were Iron Mountain, Larroca Minera, Almacén de Frío, Aditivos Alimentarios and a distributor.
One of the greatest risks during the control tasks focused on protecting a meatpacking industry with ammonia deposits located about 200 meters from the focus of the fire, according to Civil Defense sources.
Emergency operation and health alert
Fabián García, provincial director of Civil Defense, said that the fire is contained, although not extinguished, which means that it will not leave the limits where it develops. The official explained that initially it was not possible to enter the property due to the magnitude of the flames and that everything that was inside is already destroyed.
Approximately seven sheds were affected, including one with rubber and tires, which generated the dense column of black smoke visible from several kilometers. For the control tasks, drones, helicopters and specialized units of firefighters from Ezeiza, Esteban Echeverría, La Matanza, Cañuelas, San Vicente, Marcos Paz, Morón, Tres de Febrero and Brandsen were deployed.
Preventive measures and care for the injured
The meteorological authorities warned that a current of smoke with toxic substances was formed directed towards San Vicente and Cañuelas, so the residents of these cities were recommended to wear masks, close windows and stay inside their homes.
The 24 injured initially reported, including a pregnant woman intoxicated by smoke inhalation, were discharged on Saturday morning, as confirmed by health sources in the Province.
Location clarifications
The president of the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA), Martín Rapallini, clarified that the incident did not occur within the industrial parks managed by his group, but in an open area known as the Ezeiza Industrial Estate, on the other side of the Ezeiza-Cañuelas Highway.
So far, authorities continue to investigate the causes of the incident as they work to completely extinguish the fire. The Ezeiza International Airport, located 12 kilometers from the site, continued to operate normally despite the proximity of the incident.
Argentina-United States trade agreement: progress, objectives and projections
In a significant step for the bilateral economic agenda, Argentina and the United States announced a new trade agreement aimed at strengthening the exchange of goods, promoting strategic investments and modernizing the regulatory frameworks that govern the relationship between the two countries. The initiative, presented by officials from both nations, seeks to boost key sectors and offer predictability to companies and investors.
According to the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agreement includes a series of commitments aimed at facilitating trade, reducing technical barriers and enhancing cooperation in sensitive areas such as energy, agribusiness, technology and food security. The agreement also includes a chapter on regulatory transparency and quality standards, with the aim of improving competitiveness and favoring the insertion of Argentine products in the U.S. market.
For their part, representatives of the U.S. government stressed that the agreement is part of a strategy to deepen the link with Latin America, recognizing Argentina's productive potential and its role in global value chains. Among the most valued aspects is the progress towards more agile mechanisms for export certification, especially in sectors such as wine, citrus fruits, beef and technological products.
The pact also provides for the creation of permanent working groups where technical teams from both countries will evaluate the fulfillment of the commitments assumed and analyze new opportunities for economic cooperation. These instances will address challenges related to logistics, infrastructure, innovation and digitalization of commerce.
In economic terms, specialists point out that the agreement could translate into an increase in bilateral trade flow and a greater attraction of U.S. investments to strategic sectors of the Argentine economy, such as renewable energies, mining, knowledge economy and biotechnology.
In the medium term, the agreement seeks to consolidate a more stable and predictable relationship, in a global context marked by competition for resources, the need to diversify suppliers and the transition to more sustainable economies.
The announcement was received with positive expectations by the Argentine business sector, which believes that the modernization of trade rules can contribute to improving access to one of the most competitive markets in the world. However, some analysts warn that there are still challenges to be resolved, including the need to advance an internal reform agenda that allows the full benefits of the agreement to be realized.
With this new chapter in their bilateral relationship, Argentina and the United States seek to build a more robust framework of economic cooperation, aimed at growth, innovation and the generation of new development opportunities for both nations.
Argentina breaks all-time record in exports during 2025
The third quarter marked a milestone with the highest physical volume exported in 15 years, while the mining sector projects to close the year with sales of more than US$ 5,400 million
BUENOS AIRES – In the third quarter of 2025, Argentina recorded the highest level of exports in terms of quantities in the last 15 years, according to official data from INDEC. The total volume of exported goods grew 12.9% year-on-year and exceeded the previous record of 2010 by 5.1%, consolidating an exceptional year for Argentine foreign trade.
The export performance reflects a genuine recovery of the country's productive capacity, with simultaneous improvements in physical volumes and terms of trade that position 2025 as a turning point for the national economy.
The export boom in figures
The index of exported quantities stood at 153.3, surpassing the previous record of 145.9 reached in 2010. Exports in quantities grew 23.2% compared to the same period in 2022 and 12.9% year-on-year, led by the agro-industrial and energy complexes.
During the first half of 2025, Argentina exported goods worth more than 39 billion dollars, ranking as the second highest value in terms of FOB value since at least 2002, just below the historical record reached in 2022.
In the first four months of 2025, exports totaled US$ 25,361 million, which represents a year-on-year increase of 5.8%, explained by a 6.6% increase in the quantities exported.
Mining stars in a historic year
The mining sector emerged as one of the big surprises of 2025. Argentina will reach historic mining exports in 2025 that exceed USD 5,400 million, driven by gold and lithium.
The first seven months of 2025 were an all-time record for the country, with mining exports totaling US$ 3,157 million, exceeding the level of 2011. Between January and September, mining exports reached US$ 4,213 million, which represents a year-on-year growth of 32.9%.
Gold consolidated itself as the main driver of the sector. In September, gold generated US$ 373 million, 48.9% more than a year ago, driven by a 158% increase in exported volumes. High international prices of the precious metal, which reached levels close to US$ 3,300 per ounce, boosted the sector's revenues.
Lithium consolidates its strategic leadership
Argentina closes 2025 with seven lithium operations underway, thanks to the commissioning of new strategic projects. Lithium exports totaled 594 million dollars between January and September, a year-on-year increase of 38.4%, with a 70% increase in exported volumes.
In September, lithium set its own historical monthly record with sales of US$ 89 million, representing 15.9% of the total exported from the mining sector. China, Germany and South Korea accounted for 90% of lithium exports for the month and 82% of the year's cumulative exports.
The Argentine lithium boom positions the country as a key player in the global supply chain for the electric vehicle and energy storage industry, sectors in full global expansion.
Agriculture and energy sustain growth
Primary products increased by 32.3% in quantities, and fuels and energy registered a rise of 31.5%. Manufactures of agricultural origin (MOA) also showed an advance of 11.8%.
The soybean sector registered an 18% increase in volumes, driven by better yields and international prices, while Vaca Muerta set record shipments of oil and gas, consolidating the energy sector as one of the engines of the external surplus.
The soybean complex maintained its leadership in Argentine exports, representing 16% of the total value exported in the first half of the year, although its relative share has been decreasing in the face of the advance of other sectors such as mining and energy.
Diversification and favorable terms of trade
One of the highlights of 2025 was the improvement in the terms of trade. The terms of trade improved 6.3% year-on-year, reaching the best record since 2011, which increases the country's external purchasing power.
Agro-industrial chains accounted for 57% of the total exported in the first half of 2025. Although they represent more than half of the value exported, this figure is the second lowest in the last decade, reflecting a process of diversification.
The mining and energy sector stood out with sustained growth, doubling its share in the last decade to reach 8% of total exports in 2025.
Export destinations
The main destinations for mining exports were India, China, the United States and Switzerland, which accounted for 82% of shipments in September and 81% in the annual cumulative
In the case of lithium, China, Germany and South Korea concentrated demand, although the United States reduced its purchases by 10% and South Korea by 46% compared to the same period in 2024, while Germany increased its demand.
Regional impact and projections
The export boom strengthened the country's macroeconomic figures and boosted regional economies. Mining activity generated employment, infrastructure development and increased tax collection in provinces such as Catamarca, Salta, Jujuy and San Juan.
Projections for 2026 anticipate the continuation of the trade surplus, with moderate export growth (+5%) and a gradual recovery in imports (+4%) associated with the reactivation of investment.
The year 2025 will be marked in Argentina's economic history as a turning point, with simultaneous records in multiple sectors that consolidate the country as a key supplier of strategic commodities for the global economy of the 21st century.
The trial for the Notebooks of Bribes has begun: Cristina Kirchner faces accusations of more than 10 million dollars
The longest judicial process in Argentine history begins with 87 defendants and could last three years
Buenos Aires, November 7, 2025 — This Thursday began the largest oral trial in the history of Argentine corruption: the case of the Cuadernos de las Coimas. The process began after 10 a.m. with former President Cristina Kirchner as the main defendant, along with 86 other defendants. The hearing was held by Zoom because there is no courtroom in the country large enough to host this process.
A system of corruption that operated for 12 years
The indictment alleges that between 2003 and 2015 an illicit association dedicated to the collection of bribes operated, made up of figures such as Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Julio De Vido, Roberto Baratta, Ricardo Jaime, Juan Pablo Schiavi, financier Ernesto Clarens and remisero Oscar Centeno.
The origin of the case dates back to the handwritten notes of Centeno, a driver for the Ministry of Planning, who for years recorded in eight notebooks the trips where he transported officials to collect bribes in companies and take them to destinations such as the Quinta de Olivos and the former president's Recoleta apartment.
The figures of the mega-case
In this first stage of the trial, 40 acts of passive bribery were read totaling more than 10.4 million dollars. However, the process covers 304 of the 540 acts of corruption in the "Notebooks" universe, so the figures could multiply substantially.
The defendants include:
The mechanisms of corruption
In the mechanism under investigation, there are direct payments recorded in Oscar Centeno's notebooks from businessmen to officials and other outsourced through payments received by the financier Ernesto Clarens and the then president of the Argentine Chamber of Construction, Carlos Wagner.
The repentant financier Ernesto Clarens described that the prices of public works were artificially inflated by 20%: that percentage was made up of 10% for bribes and the remaining 10% to generate black money. According to José López, since 2011 the percentages required for the award of works have been reduced to 3%.
The accusations against Cristina Kirchner
The former president is accused of being the head of an illicit association, co-author of 204 passive bribes and a necessary participant in passive bribery. Cristina Kirchner is accused of having been the final beneficiary of at least 38 bribe payments for 17 million dollars.
The indictment alleges that these payments came from businessmen seeking to maintain their public works contracts. During the first day of the trial, the former president participated from her home at 1111 San José, where she is serving a sentence for the Vialidad case, together with her lawyer Carlos Beraldi.
The court and the development of the process
Judges Enrique Méndez Signori, Fernando Canero and Germán Castelli head the court, while Attorney General Fabiana León is in charge of the prosecution.
During the first month of the process, the requirements for elevation to trial will be read, which means presentations and accusations. Then will come the inquiries of the accused.
The trial began with one hearing per week, on Thursdays, but will change pace in March, when two weekly debates will be held. Even so, the process could take three years or more.
The Repentant and the Trials
In the case there are 24 accused collaborators who confirmed the illicit maneuvers, including former officials such as Claudio Uberti, José López and the driver Oscar Centeno, along with renowned businessmen such as Calcaterra, Pescarmona and Roggio.
In 2025, the original notebooks appeared and the expert report confirming that Centeno was indeed the author of those manuscripts was incorporated as evidence. However, in August 2025, an expert report carried out by the Gendarmerie and the Federal Police found that, although the primary writing corresponded to Centeno, more than 1,500 corrections, deletions and adulterations were detected in the notebooks that did not correspond to the driver.
Attempts to avoid judgment
On October 6, 2025, the Federal Oral Court No. 7 rejected the economic offers presented by more than fifty businessmen and former officials, considering that it was not appropriate to apply the figure of "comprehensive reparation" to extinguish the criminal action.
Among the outstanding offers: Ángelo Calcaterra's defense offered more than $2.4 billion to close the case against him, while Benito Roggio proposed another $1.8 billion.
A historic trial in times of Zoom
87 defendants and their defense attorneys met via Zoom for the longest trial in the history of Argentine corruption, with a hearing broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Supreme Court.
The hearing began almost an hour late due to delays by the defendants. During the broadcast, four court clerks took turns reading the first of a series of indictments that will take until the beginning of the summer judicial recess.
The reading of the accusation began with the statement of LA NACION journalist Diego Cabot, who narrated how he received the notebooks of the bribes from Jorge Bacigalupo, a former policeman friend of Centeno who, without notifying him, delivered the documents to the press.
The political context
Cristina Kirchner described the process as "another judicial show" on her social networks before the start of the trial, arguing that it is a distraction while "the future of work and retirements is discussed."
The libertarian government decided not to comment on the trial, and it is expected to be an extensive process that may take about three years to begin to glimpse the stage of the convictions.
The case of the Cuadernos de las Coimas represents a turning point in Argentine judicial history, not only because of the magnitude of the accusations, but also because it brings together for the first time in the same process the most powerful officials of the last decade with the main businessmen who managed the country's public works.
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