Argentine bookstores request emergency status amid 41.5% revenue drop

The Argentine Federation of Bookstores, Stationeries, and Related Businesses (FALPA) has called for a formal declaration of a ‘bookselling emergency’ to protect independent bookstores across the country. A survey of 1,200 businesses revealed a 41.5% drop in real revenue and a 25% decline in the volume of books sold compared to 2023. This downturn is compounded by a 31.1% increase in real operating costs.

FALPA and the El Libro Foundation emphasized that the crisis threatens cultural access and reading habits, noting a decline in reading comprehension among youth. To mitigate the impact, the sector is requesting urgent government intervention at national, provincial, and municipal levels. Key demands include the return of VAT tax credits, access to low-interest financing lines to manage debt, and the creation of a reduced federal shipping rate to help local publishers compete with e-commerce platforms.

Many independent owners are currently sustaining their businesses by using personal savings, reducing their own pay, or accumulating debt. The sector warns that the closure of local bookstores results in the loss of community meeting spaces and essential cultural mediation.