It is expected that with the resolution of the union conflict the sector will begin to partially recover, although the low international and local demand puts a roof to that rebound.
In the midst of the deep crisis already reported by scope, Fishing produced 82.8% less than a year ago in July and touched its worst level from the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is expected that with the resolution of the union conflict the sector will begin to partially recover, although the low international and local demand puts a roof to that rebound.
The data arises from a new publication of the Industrial Production Index (IPI) Fisheries. While the unstacted series showed a monthly improvement of 8.6%, The trend-cycle series was located on its floor since the March-July period of 2020; Taking that period affected by the Coronavirus, you have to go back to mid -2016 to find a lower figure.
Compared to July 2024, it particularly highlighted an almost total stoppage in the crustacean segment (shrimp), which explains most of the activity and exports of the sector. As a consequence of a crisis initiated in April, fishing accumulated a Annual collapse of 34.2% in the first seven months of the year and became the sector with the greatest negative incidence in the monthly Economic Activity Estimator (EMAE) of INDEC.
The behind the deep crisis that fishing is going through
The item crosses structural problems, fundamentally unleashed due to a Contraction in the global demand for export products, and its consequent impact on prices. Punctually, the KG value of the wild prawn sank from the US $12 to US $ 5, both for an overcapation and the invasion of other lower quality but cheaper species, such as the Vannamei prawn.
In parallel, domestic demand does not compensatesince Argentina has the lowest per capita consumption in the region, with just 7 kg per year. Within that framework, a conflict between entrepreneurs and workers was unleashed; While the former ask for an adaptation of the agreement to the new reality of the sector, the latter claimed for attempts to cut salaries, something that finally ended up occurring (temporarily) with the resolution of the conflict in the first days of August.
Representatives of this industry explained to this media that “Around 113 freezing tangoner ships were moored four months In different ports of Mar del Plata, Puerto Deseado and Puerto Madryn because the activity was not profitable “due to the reasons mentioned.
As a consequence, despite the fact that exports of 2025 were somewhat larger than those of 2024, they claim that they could have been even higher in US $200 million. Likewise, in labor terms the unions argue that 600 workers were already harmed between suspensions and dismissals, although The general scenario impacts 5,000 families.
Source: Ambito
