The fishing industry opposes the 15% increase in export duties (DEX). They believe it will liquefy the profits of companies and impact the international competitiveness of Argentine fishing.
Interchambers of the Argentine Fishing Industry, which brings together and represents the main actors in the sector, expressed their worry by the recent announcement that fishing products would be covered by the 15% on export duties (DEX).
Through a statement they indicated that “Although 90% of the fishing sector’s production is exported, costs are highly dollarized. Most fisheries pay salaries tied to the official exchange rate; the same occurs with imported fuel and inputs. These components are essential for the activity”.
“For this reason, the industrialists continue, the imposition of a 15% DEX, added to an increase in the cost of inputs, will not only liquefy the benefits of a better exchange rate, but will negatively impact the international competitiveness of fishing. Argentina”.
“We are concerned that measures will be taken that deepen the crisis in a sector that generates more than 46,000 jobs”
They also highlighted that “This situation will result in fewer exports, less foreign currency for Argentina and a consequent drop in the profitability of companies.”, “We are extremely concerned that measures may be taken that lead to a deepening of the crisis in a sector that generates more than 46,000 direct jobs in more than 140 processing plants and meat processing plants authorized to export on more than 1,000 fishing vessels.”
Interchambers of the Argentine Fishing Industry is made up of the Chamber of Fishing Shipowners and Freezers of the Argentine Republic (CAPECA); Chamber of Argentine Boat Owners (CAPA); Chamber of the Argentine Fishing Industry (CAIPA); Argentine Chamber of Offshore Fishing Vessel Owners (CAABPA); Association of Coastal Fishing Vessels (AEPC); Union of Argentine Fishing Interests (UDIPA); Argentine Patagonian Chamber of Fishing Industries (CAPIP); Council of Argentine Fishing Companies (CEPA), and Chamber of Fisheries Exporters (CAFREXPORT).
“Increasing duties to 15% will have a very negative impact on fishing activity”
The fishing sector considers, finally, that “increasing rights to 15%, even temporarily, has a very negative impact on fishing activity, which is why we have appealed to the authorities to reconsider the treatment to be given to this very subject.” detrimental to the fishing production chain”.
Source: Ambito
