Metallurgical activity grew by more than 10% in March and exceeded 2019 levels

Metallurgical activity is marked a improvement of 10.3% year-on-year in March and accumulated growth of 4.6% in the first quarter of the year, according to the report prepared by the Association of Metallurgical Industrialists (ADIMRA).

In this way, the activity level in the sector is 10% above the same month in 2019, a year before the pandemic started.

The business entity, in a statement, explained that an overall increase has been observed in the provinces, where Santa Fe and Entre Ríos continue to have marked good performance, with increased 9.2% and 11.5% year-on-year, respectively.

For its part, Córdoba (+4.6%) also registered a year-on-year increase, although it slowed down compared to 2021.

In relation to the province of Buenos Aires, including CABA, it showed an increase of 10.5% compared to March 2021, due to an increase of 11.3% in AMBA and 6.2% in the interior of the province ?, the work pointed out.

At the sector level, the item Bodies, trailers and semi trailers increases its activity the most (18%), along with Medical Equipment (+16.1%).

Meanwhile, the industry Agricultural machinery (+9.1%) remains above 2019 levels and exceeded those registered in the same month in 2018.

Regarding employment, although the employment rate increased by 2.3% compared to that registered last year, 19% of companies have reduced overtime and 5% have had to shorten the working day. If we examine the evolution of the first quarter, it can be seen that the percentage of companies that raised the level of their work remains high, 47% of employers indicated that they increased their workforce.

Continuing, 42% of entrepreneurs in the sector expect production to increase and only 18% fear activity will decline. Among the concerns of the sector are the increase in costs, which in the first quarter of this year rose by almost 16%especially the amount of energy.