Argentina: Contraction in industrial production eases in January
Industrial production plummeted 10.8% over the same month of last year in January, according to data released by the National Statistical Institute (INDEC) on 6 March. The reading marked a less steep fall than December’s revised multi-year low of a 14.8% year-on-year decline (previously reported: -14.7% year-on-year).
January’s result reflected contractions in all components of the index. The categories of metal products and machinery and equipment; other equipment, instruments and apparatus; automotive and other transport equipment recorded the biggest drops. The production of automotive and other transport equipment shrunk by almost 30%. A marked fall in domestic demand was again behind the contraction in industrial output.
Meanwhile, the annual average variation in industrial output fell to a 5.9% contraction in January from a 4.7% in December.