The Metallurgical Industry Activity registered last May a 1.1% setback compared to last month and An interannual variation of 1.6%. In this way, the sector accumulates a growth of 3.3% so far from 2025, in the comparison against the same period of 2024, although the current level is 11.7% below the average of 2023 and 14.5% below the highest historical levels.
The data arose from the report prepared by the Department of Economic Studies of the Association of Metallurgical Industrials of the Argentine Republic (Adimra) He points out that the use of installed capacity (ICU) recorded an increase of 2.6 percentage points compared to the same month of the previous year.
However, it is found in one of the lowest values in historical terms reaching 46.6%.
Metallurgical Industry Activity in May had a 1.1% monthly setback
Despite the strong contractions in the activity verified in recent months, there is still no situation of such magnitude in the level of employment provided by companies in the sector, registering a fall in interannual terms of -1.9% and with respect to April it is stable.
In April, last month with available data, exports of metallurgical products totaled 476 million dollars, representing an interannual increase of 7.4%. On the other hand, imports of metallurgical goods increased by 29.4% compared to the same month of the previous year. Significant increases were observed in imports of capital goods reaching record values in historical terms.
In monthly terms, imports of metallurgical products continue to grow at an average monthly rate of 4.9% based on June of the previous year that was the floor in the fall of purchases abroad.
54% of metallurgical companies reduced extra hours during May
Metallurgical activity in May: the indicators of each sector
At the sector level, Agricultural machinery (14.1%) and bodies and trailers (12.7%) They stood out again as those of greatest year -on -year growth, although both moderated their rhythm compared to April. On the other hand, the sector of Foundry (-14.7%) It continues to be one of the most affected by the manufacturers of Autopartes (-2.3%) that deepened his fall.
The situation of the foundry, in particular, reflects a longer contraction process that continues to affect the whole sector and the activity remains at minimum levels.
The sector of Capital goods (-2.1%)that in April he had managed to stay in positive terrain, he returned to register a negative variation in May. Monthly evolution suggests a dynamic dynamic, without clear recovery signs.
Other sectors such as Electrical equipment and devices (3.9%), medical equipment (2.8%) and other metal products (1.5%) They registered positive variations again, aligned with a gradual recovery that has been maintained since the end of 2024.
Although in 2025 reactivation signals are consolidated, the rebound continues to be very heterogeneous. While items such as agricultural machinery and bodies and trailers hold firm growth, other relevant sectors, such as foundry, auto parts and capital goods, still face difficulties in strengthening a structural improvement.
Adimra Metallurgical Industry May 2025 1.jpeg
Adimra
The president of Adimra, Elio del Re, said that, “Metallurgical activity continues without demonstrating significant advances and imports grow at an average monthly rate of 4.9%. In particular, capital goods reach record values, contrasting with a local industry that shows stagnation and setback in that same segment.” In that sense, he stressed that “All developed countries have a strong metallurgical industry, and Argentina cannot be the exception.”
During May, the main metallurgical provinces maintained positive interannual variations, although with less impulse than in previous months. Santa Fe (3.8%) and Córdoba (3.5%) continued to show positive variations, driven by agricultural machinery activity. Mendoza (2.1%), Entre Ríos (0.8%) and Buenos Aires (0.5%) also recorded increases, although with a more moderate rhythm with a clear slowdown against April.
Source: Ambito
