The Pyme Observatory Cayunteer Survey From the fourth quarter of 2024 (IV-2024), carried out in February 2025, it offers a detailed panorama about the situation of small and medium enterprises in Argentina. With a representative sample of 500 companies in the manufacturing industry and the software and computer services sector, the study reveals a gradual recovery with important future challenges, over the Increase in imports.
2024 was marked by a duality in the performance of SME. While the manufacturing industry suffered the impact of the recession, the software and computer services sector maintained its growth. However, in both sectors there was an improvement in the second half of the year: less fall in the manufacturing industry and a rebound in the technological sector.
By 2025, expectations are optimistic, although the industry faces threats such as the increase in imports, high production costs and uncertainty about demand.
In the IV-2024, the industrial production It fell 10%year -on -year and employment 6%, while deflacated sales grew 15%, registering their first annual rise since the beginning of 2022. Despite the increase in sales, for observers Doubts persist on whether this rebound is due to a real reactivation or the liquidation of low -priced stocks and the replacement of local production for imports.
2024 was consolidated as the second worst year in production and employment in industry SME. The sector faces a process of destruction of aggravated employment by the competence of imported products and an economy in the process of normalization after years of stagnation and macroeconomic distortions.
He PMI-PMME indexwhich measures the manufacturing activity, fell to 47 points, reversing the previous improvements and reflecting a slight setback. In contrast, the Business Confidence Index (ICE-PMME) maintained an optimistic trend since October 2023, showing a gap between the current situation and future business perception.
The Manufacturing SME Price Index continues below the consumer price index (CPI) and the manufacturing wholesaler, generating tensions in profitability. Only 43% of companies were able to move costs at the final price at the IV-2024, compared to 52% of the previous quarter. In this context, 81% reported increases in production costs and the rise was maintained in the SME wage index.
Software and computer services: sustained growth but with deceleration
The software and computer services sector maintained positive growth rates in 2024, although lower than postpania levels. The first half of the year showed a slowdown, while the second exhibited an acceleration, with an year-on-year growth of 20% in deflated sales and 3% in employment in the IV-2024.
The ICE-PEME index of the sector reflected sustained optimism, driven by an improvement in current conditions. However, prices in the sector continue with a lag in front of the CPI and the exchange rate, which affects its competitiveness.
What are the main problems of SMEs in 2025
Manufacturing industries face typical recession problems: 66% report concern about the fall in sales and 54% for the increase in salary costs. In addition, concern for the competition of imported products grows, with a 28% incidence in February 2025 (compared to 20% in October 2024).
Computer software and services companies face challenges related to future expansion and demand. Concerns about social, political and economic instability decreased (from 78% in October 2024 to 54% in February 2025) and financing restrictions (from 53% to 41%).
What are the expectations and challenges for 2025?
By 2025, expectations in the manufacturing industry show a mixed panorama: 47% of SME Wait for an increase in production and 51% projects a sales rise. However, forecasts for investment (34%) and employment (16%) are more moderate. Approximately 50% of companies do not expect a recovery, which shows the fragmentation of the sector.
In the software and computer services sector, perspectives are more positive: 68% provides for an increase in sales and 55% projects a greater hiring in 2025.
Despite the improvement in expectations, uncertainty factors persist. In the manufacturing industry, the weakness of demand, production costs and import competition are the main challenges. In software and computer servicesthe lack of demand and the high cost of operation remain key concerns, added to the difficulty in finding qualified personnel.
After a 2024 economic settings, 2025 presents better perspectives, although with costs in costs and sustainability of demand. In particular, the SME Manufacturers face a challenging scenario for exchange rate appreciation, import opening and lack of incentives for local production, factors that threaten the employment and productive capacity of the sector.
Source: Ambito
