Overview
- Electrolux's Rosario assembler Frimetal, which disclosed the change Monday, will end refrigerator production in May and supply Argentina with finished units from its global network.
- The firm will keep making washing machines and freezers in the country as the Rosario site scales down into a light operations and assembly hub.
- Staffing will shrink sharply after months of cutbacks, with about 130 voluntary exits in March and roughly 100 roles tied to the fridge line, and local reports say only about 150 jobs may remain from a historical 750.
- Company statements and industry data cite a steep drop in appliance sales, higher local costs, and easier entry for imported goods, with some reports noting a 30% to 40% fall in demand for fridges and cookers.
- The pullback fits a broader contraction in Argentina’s white‑goods sector and a global cost drive, as Whirlpool shut its Pilar plant earlier, Peabody sought creditor protection, Mabe cut shifts and jobs, and Electrolux moved to close a factory in Hungary affecting about 600 workers.