During June, about 40% of GBA’s self -services had illegal beers in their gondolas, according to sources in the sector. They warn that loss of competitiveness can result in the destruction of an industry with 130,000 jobs.
As a consequence of Cheap dollarnot only imports were fired -which already equals 32% of GDP, the highest level in 135 years-, but also the smuggling and unfair competition. One of the most affected sectors is the brewer, which warns a growing illegal income of products from bordering countries, In a context of stagnant consumption of alcoholic beverages. With 130,000 direct and indirect jobs, the industry is on alert for the loss of competitiveness and demands urgent measures to protect local production.
Sector sources revealed to Scope that about 40% of the self -service of Greater Buenos Aires (GBA) They had beers in June illegally. The data lights alarms, since the national beer industry supports a heavy tax burden that neighboring countries such as Chile, Paraguay and Bolivia do not applyfrom where most smuggling comes.
Until recently, smuggling products used to concentrate on areas close to borders. But now the situation changed: these illegal beers have already reached the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires (AMBA). “It is very difficult to compete: today 52% of the price of a beer corresponds to taxes,” They warned from the sector. “If you bring a beer from outside that does not pay taxes, it reaches the gondola with a much lower price,” They added. In addition, while national production must comply with demanding quality controls, lProducts that enter on informal roads escape all health inspection.
“The entry of these products occurs through vulnerable points, due to the lack of effective controls at the points of sale, at the borders and in customs operations. But they are also being feasible to enter through the online sale that does not have the traceability and origin controls necessary to discern between original or falsified merchandise,” they said from the Industrial Union (UIA)where they have been working together with companies.
The consumption of beers fails to recover the volume of 2023
He alcoholic beverage consumption was very resentful After recession and inflation, especially in the first half of 2024. The sale of beers fell 20% in terms of volume and this year only recovered a 4% warm, according to internal surveys. “We are very down from 2023, which already itself It had been worse than 2022. The market is not recovering as expected“They lamented.
“I am 20 years in the industry and I never saw a phenomenon like this, it is associated with a convenient exchange rate against other bordering countries,”another source of the sector emphasized.
From UIA and together with the partner cameras, they monitored the market surveillance actions of the companies and filed complaints before the Authorities of the Ministry of Industry and Commercein an articulated work to expedite the mechanisms of denunciation and control with the linked areas of the government, including the Ministry of Security, Ark and Customs.
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The industry observes two nerve problems in the sector: the Tax load And, now, the conjunctural component of the unfair competition. With the entry of smuggling beers, the sector, which was already depressed by the fall in consumption, is even more prone to the destroying jobs. Currently, there are 130,000 jobs that – they recognize – costs to maintain in this context.
UIA also remarked that illegal smuggling generates important damage to the State since the merchandise enters without the payment of the corresponding taxes.
These crimes are affecting sectors such as footwear, clothing, appliances and electronic artifacts (cell phones, tablets, computers, household appliances), drinks (beers specifically). It is also spreading to items such as the sale of construction materials that illegally enter the market and without due certifications, putting at risk the constructions that are carried out with them.
Source: Ambito
