Argentina Industrial Output Rises for 1st Time in 9 Months

Argentina’s industrial production rose by 5.0% year-on-year in March 2026, recovering from an 8.6% decline in the previous month. It marked the first month of growth in industrial activity since late June, as ten of the sixteen manufacturing divisions posted annual gains, led by chemicals and chemical products up 15.9%, petroleum refining coke and nuclear fuel up 13.5%, wood paper publishing and printing up 12.8%, metal products up 9.2%, food and beverages up 7.9%, and motor vehicles trailers and auto parts up 7.6%. Tobacco products also surged 28.2%, while non-metallic mineral products increased 6.9%. Meanwhile, major declines were recorded in textiles down 23.3%, machinery and equipment down 11.3%, basic metal industries down 10.1%, and wearing apparel leather and footwear down 8.9%. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial activity rebounded 3.2% in March after falling 3.1% in February, though output in the first quarter remained 2.3% below the same period last year.

Argentina’s industrial production fell 8.7% year-on-year in February 2026, following a 3.2% drop in January and marking the sharpest contraction since November 2025. Fourteen of sixteen manufacturing divisions posted drops in output. The steepest drops were in food and beverages down 6.9%, machinery and equipment down 29.4%, motor vehicles bodies trailers and parts down 24.6%, other equipment appliances and instruments down 24.6%, wearing apparel leather and footwear down 18.2%, rubber and plastic products down 15.7%, basic metal industries down 12.5%, textiles down 33.2%, furniture mattresses and other manufacturing down 12.3%, non-metallic mineral products down 7.2%, metal products down 5.7%, tobacco products down 14.9%, other transport equipment down 19.8%, and wood paper publishing and printing down 1.5%. Positive contributions came from petroleum refining coke and nuclear fuel up 19.7% and chemical substances and products up 3.7%. On a monthly basis, industrial activity fell 4.0%.

Argentina’s industrial production fell 3.2% year-on-year in January 2026, following a 3.9% decline in December. Ten of sixteen manufacturing divisions posted annual drops. The steepest declines were in machinery and equipment (-20.2%), motor vehicles, bodies, trailers, and parts (-25.7%), wearing apparel, leather, and footwear (-20.6%), other equipment and instruments (-22.1%), rubber and plastic products (-8.0%), metal products (-8.0%), and textiles (-23.9%). Positive contributions came from chemical substances and products (7.2%), non-metallic mineral products (4.3%), petroleum refining, coke, and nuclear fuel (2.2%), tobacco products (2.5%), wood, paper, publishing and printing (0.2%), and basic metal industries (0.2%).