The use of the installed capacity in the industry rose to 68.9% in Aprilhigher than that registered in April 2022 (67.1%) and the highest level since November last year, reported the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC).
The sectoral blocks that present levels of utilization of installed capacity higher than the general level are petroleum refining (86.8%)basic metal industries (82%), chemical substances and products (77%), paper and cardboard (74.6%) and non-metallic mineral products (72.3%).
While the sectors that were below the general level are the automotive industry (66.6%), tobacco products (63.3%), food products and beverages (62.7%), metal-mechanics except automobiles (61.0 %), publishing and printing (60.6%), rubber and plastic products (56.8%) and textile products (53.9%).
In April, in the year-on-year comparison, the main positive incidence was observed in the basic metal industries, which had a level of utilization of installed capacity of 82%higher than that registered the same month of the previous year (68.7%).
According to data from the Argentine Chamber of Steel, Crude steel production shows a year-on-year rise of 21.2%mainly related to the fact that “during April of last year, programmed technical stops of different nature and duration were reflected,” according to INDEC.
For his part, the automotive industry showed a level of utilization of installed capacity of 66.6%higher than April last year (56.9%), related to the greater number of units manufactured by automotive terminals.
The oil refining In April, it presented a level of utilization of installed capacity of 86.8%, higher than that registered in the same month of the previous year (81.4%), based on the higher level of crude oil processing.
Indeed, according to data from the industrial manufacturing production index (IPI manufacturing)the production of gasoline and diesel presented interannual increases of 14.8% and 14.2%, respectively, in April.
In April 2023, compared to the same month in 2022food and beverage products show the main negative incidence, with a level of utilization of installed capacity of 62.7%lower than April of the previous year (66%), mainly linked to the lower crushing of oilseeds and the fall in the level of capacity utilization of poultry meat production plants.
Source: Ambito
