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Argentina’s Consumer-Goods Imports Hit Record $8.38 Billion Through September

A CEPA analysis points to a pivot toward finished-goods imports that is pressuring domestic production.

Overview

  • CEPA reports January–September consumer-goods imports of $8.376 billion, topping the 2018 peak by $1.693 billion for a 25.3% increase.
  • In September alone, consumer-goods imports reached $1.157 billion, bringing the category to 14.6% of total imports.
  • Appliances led the surge (+217.7% vs 2023) with Pilisar at 14% of category imports, Honda led transport with 18%, and TAC/Zara and Adidas each held 10% in apparel.
  • The number of importing firms rose by 9,235 (+70%) compared with 2023, with the largest influx in rubber and plastic products, leather goods, garments and appliances.
  • Imports are increasingly concentrated in final products, coinciding with output drops in IT/TV/communications (-25.7%), textiles (-18.9%), foods and beverages (-0.2%) and leather goods (-26.8%) versus 2023.