The exports of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) reached whats $4,142 million in the first quarter of the yearwhich represented the second highest value in 9 years and an increase of 11% year-on-year and 20% compared to 2020, according to preliminary data reported today by the Secretariat of Small and Medium Enterprises (Sepyme).
In addition, the sales of MSMEs represented in the period the 15% of the total exportedwith US$ 27,681 million, while the main Destinations of external shipments between January and April were Brazil ($663 million), USA ($481 million), China ($463 million), Chili ($333 million), Uruguay ($203 million), Netherlands ($199 million), and Spain ($141 million).
In this regard, the owner of the Sepyme, William Meredizhighlighted that “the exports of MSMEs broke a new record and in the first quarter of this year they reached US$ 4,142 million, the second highest value in nine years”.
Along these lines, he affirmed that it is “much more than positive numbers”, and affirmed that “this is a sign of the great capacity that Argentine SMEs have, of the recognition of the international market and of the accompaniment of the State so that our businesswomen and entrepreneurs continue to invest and can grow”.
By sectorsthe Manufactures of Agricultural Origin (MOA) again headed sales after exceeding US$ 1,467 million, an increase of 15% year-on-year for that period.
In second placewere located Primary products (PP) with shipments of more than US$ 1,434 million, with an increase of 20% year-on-year, followed by Manufactures of Industrial Origin (MOI) with more than US$ 1,101 million (+8% year-on-year).
Meanwhile, the Fuels and Energy (CyE) were the ones that grew the most in percentage terms, rising 186% over the same period in 2021.
In the first quarter of the year, April was the most significant month with exports that exceeded US$1,107 million, showing an improvement of 20.8% year-on-year and 20.6% compared to the same month in 2019, the last year before the pandemic.
The main destinations for sales in the fourth month of the year were Brazil (US$ 194 million), the United States (US$ 114 million), China (US$ 103 million), Chile (US$ 89 million) and Spain (US$ 55 million).
In addition, at a general level, the external sector concluded the first quarter of the year with a strong expansion, and thus sales of Argentine products abroad reached US$ 27,681 million, which meant a year-on-year increase of 28.5% that “allowed to achieve the highest value in history for that period, according to INDEC data,” said Sepyme.
Regarding the exported quantitiesit was achieved second largest record in history, only surpassed for the same period of 2008”.
In order to promote and monitor external shipments, Sepyme carries out the SME Exporter Federal Development Plan and within this framework, at the beginning of the month it presented the Boost to Exports line, which allocates an initial quota of $50,000 million so that financial entities can grant credits of between $100 million and $500 million, with a rate of 35% ( fixed 3 years and then Badlar) and subsidized by the National Productive Development Fund (Fondep).
These loans are intended for investment projects with associated working capital, for SMEs in the industrial, agribusiness, pig and poultry sectors.
Merediz stressed that the new line “increases the credit offer of the Ministry of Productive Development, which is one of the largest in Argentine history and in which we work together with all public and private banks”, and assured that “from the beginning of management, we consider it fundamental to guarantee SMEs access to financing”.
Through the SME Export Federal Development Plan, in 2021 the Secretariat assisted more than 10,000 SMEs with $15,000 million to improve export skills, through initiatives that included 80 training sessions in which 7,170 people participated.
Technical assistance was also provided for 420 SME projects for export development, in addition to 910 projects that are pre-approved; specific financing for exports for more than $3,420 million, with lines at rates subsidized by Fondep; and international promotion actions for more than 20 productive sectors.
