Exports of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) reached $10.8 billion last year, the highest level in 6 years and an increase of 15% compared to 2020 and 2.6% in 2019, while the number of MSMEs that sold abroad grew from 7,240 in 2020 to 7,577 in 2021, according to the Ministry of Productive Development.
In a statement, it was highlighted that the sector that increased its volume of exports the most was Fuels and Energywhich went from US$400 million in 2020 to US$700 million in 2021 -the highest value since 2012- with an increase of 72.1% in its external shipments to Brazil, China, the United States, Chile and Uruguay, as the main destinations of export.
“Last year, 7,577 MSMEs sold their products abroad, exceeding the 7,240 that had exported in 2020. In this way, last year exporting MSMEs represented 89% of all companies that made foreign sales,” detailed the portfolio of the production.
For their part, MSME exports of manufactures of industrial origin (MOI) rose from US$2.1 billion in 2020 to US$2.9 billion last year, which implied a year-on-year growth of 36.6%, while shipments abroad of Primary Products climbed 8.9% (from US$ 3,800 million to US$ 4,100 million).
On the other hand, manufactures of agricultural origin (MOA) registered a drop of US$3,000 million to US$2,900 million.
main destinations
As detailed by the portfolio that leads Matthias Kulfasthe five main export destinations of MSMEs were Brazil (US$1,712 million), China (US$1,296 million), U.S (US$1,193 million), chili (US$ 824 million) and Uruguay ($558 million).
The highest year-on-year growth in external shipments occurred with Uruguay (40%), the United States (28%) and Chile (27%), while China and Brazil presented variations of 18% and 7%, respectively.
“The economic and productive activity of our country is recovering and in order for us to consolidate this improvement we need to have more foreign currency, which when it is genuine comes from export development,” said the head of the Secretariat for Small and Medium Enterprises and Entrepreneurs, Guillermo Merediz.
Through the SME Export Federal Development Plan, the secretariat assisted last year with $15,000 million to more than 10,000 SMEs to improve export skills.
Lines were also granted at subsidized rates by the National Fund for Productive Development (Fondep) for more than $3,420 million and promotional actions were carried out in 15 countries for productive sectors such as agricultural machinery, machinery for food, wine, food, ICT, textiles, footwear, musical instruments, medical equipment, games and toys, among others.
Sales of Argentine products abroad reached US$77,934 million in 2021, the highest figure since 2012 and the second year with the largest amounts exported in the last decade, only behind 2019.
