Record High for the Blue Dollar

The Argentine foreign exchange market saw significant movements on Monday, July 27, 2026. According to multiple local media reports, the dólar blue (the informal or parallel dollar) set a new nominal all-time high, rising by AR$15 (0.97%) in Buenos Aires. The informal currency traded at AR$1,540 for buying and AR$1,560 for selling, continuing an upward trend that kept savers on edge.

In the interior of the country, the rate was even higher. In the city of Córdoba, the blue dollar traded at AR$1,544 for buying and AR$1,576 for selling, reflecting the typical premium seen in provincial informal markets.

Exchange Rates at Close – July 27, 2026

Economic and Financial Context

The market is digesting recent statements by spokesperson Adrián Ravier about a possible dollar at AR$1,800, which were quickly denied by President Javier Milei during the Rural Exhibition. Private projections place the wholesale dollar at around AR$1,673 by December 2026. Currently, the wholesale dollar is stable at AR$1,497, sitting 22.9% below the top of the exchange rate band set at AR$1,839.93.

The Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA) continues its policy of accumulating reserves, having added more than USD 49 billion after purchasing USD 13 billion so far in 2026. In this scenario, rating agency Moody's upgraded Argentina's credit rating to B3, while the country risk index stood at around 442 points.

The day was also marked by the arrival in Argentina of Kristalina Georgieva, head of the IMF, who met with President Milei and Economy Minister Luis Caputo. They celebrated the drop in inflation and the fiscal surplus, though they ruled out new financing for now. The currency controls (known as 'cepo cambiario') were lifted on April 14, 2025, allowing individuals to buy dollars without limit at banks, with prior notice only required for transactions over USD 100,000.

Understanding Argentina's Multiple Dollar Rates

Argentina has a complex system of exchange rates. The official dollar is controlled by the Central Bank for bank transactions. The blue dollar is the informal, parallel market rate. The MEP dollar is obtained by buying bonds in pesos and selling them locally, while the CCL (Contado con Liqui) involves selling those bonds abroad to hold foreign currency. The crypto dollar uses stablecoins pegged to the US dollar, and the credit card dollar applies a 30% surcharge on the official rate for foreign purchases or buying dollars for savings.

Sources: La Voz, TN, Clarín.