Econimc Activities: Industry

Economic Activities

INDUSTRY

The Beginnings

The Process of Imports Replacement
Changes

Paraná and Plata Rivers Area

Other Minor Areas

Harvesting of sugar-cane

The Beginnings

The industrial activity began in the past century with some manufactures like wine in Cuyo, sugar in Tucumán, meat-salting factories in the province of Buenos Aires and weaving mills in Córdoba and Santiago del Estero.

Processing of sugar-cane.

The Process of Imports Replacement

When the First World War broke out, a need to replace imports arose, which benefited the paper, textile and wool industries. When the war ended, only some industries survived, such as leather and quebracho, cold storage plants and dairies, because the raw material was available and they had enough domestic market. During the Second World War, there was a growth of the light industry in South America. The lack of iron and steel industries hampered the development of heavy industry. Changes Since 1944, some provinces encouraged the settlement of manufacturing companies in their territories with the purpose of: decentralizing the activities carried out in the province of Buenos Aires; fostering the industrialization of regional raw material; creating job opportunities; improving the living standards of disadvantaged areas, discouraging the internal migrations, etc. Growth and recession were constant in the 1950s. In the 1960s foreign capitals arrived; however, they did not plow back their profits in the country but engaged in financial speculation. Paraná and Plata Rivers Area In this region, the ports worth mentioning are those of Buenos Aires, La Plata, Santa Fé and Rosario. A third of the total Argentine population lives here, which implies a large consumer market and also a largo source of job opportunities.

Left: Buenos Aires city. Right: Rosario city

Petrochemical, textile, automobile, metallurgical, and iron and steel industries, dairies, poultry processing plants and flour mills generally settle in this area.

Automovile output.

Other Minor Areas

In Córdoba there are important flour, milk, oil, automobile and mechanical industries. Bahía Blanca is characterized by petrochemicals and flour plants and Mar del Plata, by textile industries and fish processing plants. In Entre Ríos there are poultry and citrus fruits processing plants, dairies and cold storage plants. In the North-east, there are leather, paper, tobacco, yerba mate, tea, citrus fruits and rice processing industries, etc.

Iron and steel industry

In the North-west, the industries worth mentioning are those related to sugar, paper, alcohol, tobacco, iron and steel, and petrochemical products. In the Pampa Sierras and Cuyo the products manufactured are wine, fruit and vegetable preserves, oil, tin cans, concrete and petroleum.

Continental shelf

In Patagonia you can find petroleum refineries, aluminum industries, wool-scouring establishments, and cold storage and fish processing plants. In Río Negro there are plants for fruit and vegetable preserves and producing cider and wines.

Oil refineries.

For further information: Ministerio de Economía

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