# Argentine industrial sector contraction

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/argentine-industrial-sector-contraction
> Updated: 2026-09-21T04:09:18.000Z. Sources: 38. Developments: 2.

Argentina is experiencing a significant industrial downturn across multiple sectors. In August 2026, cement shipments reached a 20-year low for the month, with the Asociación de Fabricantes de Cemento Portland reporting an 8.1% year-on-year decrease. This decline in the construction industry follows five consecutive years of year-on-year contraction.

Simultaneously, the metallurgical sector reported a 6.1% year-on-year decline in activity for August. According to the Association of Metallurgical Industrials of the Argentine Republic (ADIMRA), installed capacity utilization has fallen to 39.6%, a 5.2 percentage point decrease from the previous year. This drop follows a 3.9% decrease in July, contributing to a cumulative contraction of 5.6% for the first eight months of 2026. ADIMRA noted that this recessionary scenario mirrors industrial conditions seen during the post-pandemic period in 2020.

The contraction has impacted all subsectors, most notably capital goods (-11.1%) and foundry (-7.9%), while auto parts (-6.4%) and car bodies (-6.6%) also reported negative growth. The downturn has affected all provinces, with notable decreases in Entre Ríos (-8.8%), Córdoba (-7.8%), and Buenos Aires (-7.3%). This decline has also resulted in a 2.5% year-on-year decrease in sector employment. 

ADIMRA President Elio Del Re stated that the lack of significant recovery and the fact that “six out of ten production units remain unused” makes a positive horizon difficult to foresee.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-21: Argentina metallurgical production falls 6.1% in August

Argentina's metallurgical sector fell 6.1% in August 2026, with capacity utilization hitting a historic low of 39.6% amid weak demand and recessionary conditions.

37 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/valencian-community-positioned-as-potential-european-energy-transition-leader

### 2026-09-07: Argentina cement shipments hit 20-year low for August

Argentina's cement shipments hit a 20-year low for August, marking five consecutive years of decline and signaling a deepening crisis in the national construction sector.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-cement-shipments-hit-20-year-low-for-august

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Cite as: Argentine industrial sector contraction. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/argentine-industrial-sector-contraction