Southern Cone in June 2026: the most important developments in economy
In the Southern Cone in June 2026, the economic news centered on Argentina, and above all on energy. TotalEnergies said it plans to raise gas output in Argentina to meet regional demand. On 8 June, Adani Ports secured a 10-year marine contract for Argentina's first LNG export project. Ganfeng and Lithium Argentina were seeking a third investor for a lithium project.
The government of President Javier Milei continued its privatization program. On 13 June, the first company privatized under Milei signed a deal to operate hydroelectric plants in Venezuela. On 19 June, a Belgian firm won the concession for Argentina's waterway system, described as Milei's largest privatization to date. Chinese companies arrived in Argentina seeking billion-dollar deals. The Milei government also planned to privatize popular budget hotels, and private companies received investments from the government. A review by the index provider MSCI was watched as a factor in foreign investment.
Milei also promoted artificial intelligence as a national goal, aiming to make Argentina a hub for the AI industry. On 10 June he debated historian Yuval Noah Harari and Microsoft's AI chief on companies run entirely by artificial intelligence, defending market-driven adoption while Harari warned of risks to human autonomy. An AI platform developed in Argentina was named the most scalable in a global ranking, and on 26 June the United States added Argentina to a global AI minerals pact.
On 3 June, the Trump administration proposed tariffs on 60 countries, including Argentina, over forced labor concerns. In Chile, copper mines explored a merger to reduce costs amid falling ore grades. Bioceres reported a 12 million dollar stock fraud and accused a former executive.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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