Argentina records fourth worst industrial performance among 84 nations

Argentina recorded the fourth worst industrial performance among 84 countries, according to data from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). As of July 2026, local manufacturing production fell 11.2% compared to 2023 levels.

This decline contrasts with the global median growth of 5.9% during the same period. Major economies showed different trajectories: China grew by 19.7%, Brazil by 2.7%, and the United States by 2.1%. In the UNIDO comparison using seasonally adjusted manufacturing production series, Argentina reached an index of 88.8 points.

Only Palestine, Qatar, and Bulgaria showed lower performance. Former Minister of Productive Development Matías Kulfas noted that those three nations faced specific external pressures, such as war in Gaza, industrial attacks in Qatar, or European automotive crises and sanctions in Bulgaria. Kulfas emphasized that Argentina did not face similar wars, blockades, or sanctions during this period.