The manufacturing industry of small and medium enterprises in Argentina, SMEs it fell 9.9% in February compared to the same month last year, and express “uncertainty” about the government’s decision to open imports.
This was revealed by a report from Argentine Confederation of Medium Enterprises (CAME)which conducted a survey that reflects the third consecutive month in which manufacturing activity has declined.
However, the document claims that he “lowered the rate after that having retreated between 27% and 30% in December and Januaryrespectively”.
Furthermore, in the seasonally adjusted monthly comparison, “a decline of 7.7% was recorded and in the cumulative amount for the year the activity fell by 21.7%”.
“What was most concerning in February were cost increases, especially in services and fuels. The industries consulted expressed the difficulties they face in translating these increases into prices in the current context. At the same time, There is uncertainty about the impact that opening up imports could have on some sectors“the report says.
The data comes from the Index of Industrial Production of SMEs (IPIP) developed by CAME, with a sample that reached 413 industrial SMEs at a federal level, where it is detailed that companies operated in February with 70.9% of installed capacity , maintaining January levels (70.8%).
“Although 32.7% of industries continue to report problems replenishing inventories, these are difficulties on a much smaller scale than in previous months,” they add.
Source: Clarin
