Argentina Profile of Chinese Development Finance, 2000-2023
Date Published
May 28, 2026
Authors
JulieAnn Sickell, Oshin Pandey, and Brooke Escobar
Publisher
Citation
Sickell, J., Pandey, O, and Escobar, B. (2026). Argentina: Chinese Development Finance, 2000-2023. Williamsburg, VA: AidData at William & Mary.
Abstract
This country profile provides a detailed overview of the scale, scope, and composition of Chinese state-directed financing in Argentina from 2000 to 2023. It includes granular information on key trends in China’s loan and grant-related official commitments, its lending portfolio, ESG risks in its infrastructure projects, and contractual safeguards adoption and implementation. From 2000 to 2023, China provided 84 grant-financed commitments and directed $36 billion via 127 loans issued in Argentina. Beijing bankrolls Buenos Aires through a mix of large-scale credit lines, central bank currency swaps, and project finance, giving Argentina a vital buffer during recurring balance of payments crises. Argentina has drawn down up to $22 billion annually under its swap line with the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) since 2014.
The insights in this profile are derived from China's Global Loans and Grants Dataset, Version 1.0 and the sources referenced therein.
Featured Authors
Brooke Escobar
Associate Director of Tracking Underreported Financial Flows (TUFF)
