The Argentine Confederation of Medium Enterprises (CAME) reported thate SME industry production rose 1.6% year-on-year in November at constant prices. According to the organization, the manufacturing activity of the sector accumulated an increase of 2.2% between January and November compared to the same period in 2021.
In the monthly comparison, activity rose 1% and CAME ensured that the SME industry recovers. Likewise, he maintained that, although the percentages are low, “they seem to stop with the decreasing dynamics that had begun three months ago.”
Meanwhile, the use of the companies’ installed capacity stood at 71.7%, one point and a half below last October, since investments are being made in some sectors. The highest levels of capacity use were recorded in Paper and printing (75.2%) and the lowest in Chemical and plastic products (69.5%).
According to CAME, the evolution of the activity in the first months of 2023, the shortage of supplies and delays in deliveries continue to be the main concerns of this SME sector. The results come from the SME Industrial Production Index (IPIP) prepared by CAME, with a sample that reached 357 SME industries nationwide.
According to the survey, the best performance in November was in Chemical and plastic products (+9.3%) and the worst in Clothing and textiles (-10.8%). Another sector, Food and Beverages, recorded an increase of 2.8% year-on-year and 2.2% monthly; in the accumulated January-November increase 2.7% compared to the same months last year.
In wood and furniturethe sales fell 0.1% compared to the same month last yearbut rose 2.9% in relation to October; in the accumulated January-November mark a fall of 3.4% compared to January-November 2021. For its part, the production of Metal, machinery, equipment and transport material rose 4.3% year-on-year, 1% monthly and accumulates an increase of 2.7% when comparing the eleven months already elapsed in 2022 with the same months in 2021.
In Chemical and plastic products rose 9.3% year-on-year in November and 2% monthly, while for the period January-November they accumulate a4.3% annual increase. Finally, in Paper, cardboard, publishing and printing production fell 9% annually in November and 5.3% monthly; in the accumulated of the year it registers an annual increase of 1.9%.
Finally, it is worth noting that the companies consulted highlighted that there are many ups and downs in production orders, due to the lack of purchasing power of the people, the shortage of supplies and price increases, CAME indicated.
