The grain trade in Argentina is facing paralysis due to a historic drought and farmers holding back on transactions in anticipation of a potential rise in the exchange rate with the upcoming president. This has resulted in a severe shortage of beans for processing plants, leading to low levels of operation and the worst year and quarter in history for the sector. The president of the CIARA-CEC chamber of grain exporters and processors called for the new government to quickly eliminate restrictions on grain exports to revive the industry.