| Web Site Tools |
|
|
|
|
| Company Info |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Industry Info |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Foods For Trade |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Other Links |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Argentina
| Economy Overview |
| Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Although one of the world's wealthiest countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the 20th century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt, and capital flight. A severe depression, growing public and external indebtedness, and a bank run culminated in 2001 in the most serious economic, social, and political crisis in the country's turbulent history. Interim President Adolfo RODRIGUEZ SAA declared a default - the largest in history - on the government's foreign debt in December of that year, and abruptly resigned only a few days after taking office. His successor, Eduardo DUHALDE, announced an end to the peso's decade-long 1-to-1 peg to the US dollar in early 2002. The economy bottomed out that year, with real GDP 18% smaller than in 1998 and almost 60% of Argentines under the poverty line. Real GDP rebounded to grow by an average 9% annually over the subsequent five years, taking advantage of previously idled industrial capacity and labor, an audacious debt restructuring and reduced debt burden, excellent international financial conditions, and expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. Inflation, however, reached double-digit levels in 2006 and the government of President Nestor KIRCHNER responded with "voluntary" price agreements with businesses, as well as export taxes and restraints. Multi-year price freezes on electricity and natural gas rates for residential users stoked consumption and kept private investment away, leading to restrictions on industrial use and blackouts in 2007. |
 |
| Economy Statistics |
| Exports: |
$54.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.) [?]
This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
|
Export
Commodities: |
soybeans and derivatives, petroleum and gas, vehicles, corn, wheat [?]
This entry provides a rank ordering of exported products starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
|
Export
Partners: |
Brazil 17.5%, Chile 9.5%, US 8.9%, China 7.5% (2006) [?]
This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
|
| Imports: |
$40.26 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.) [?]
This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
|
Import
Commodities: |
machinery, motor vehicles, petroleum and natural gas, organic chemicals, plastics [?]
This entry provides a rank ordering of imported products starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
|
Import
Partners: |
Brazil 34.8%, US 12.6%, China 9.1%, Germany 4.5% (2006) [?]
This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
|
|
|
|
| Argentina Chamber of Commerce |
| Address: |
Viamonte 1133 Piso 8
C1053ABW Buenos Aires |
| Phone: |
5411-4371-4500 |
| Fax: |
5411-4371-8400 |
| Website: |
http://www.amchamar.com.ar/ |
|
|
|
|
