From the roaring assembly lines of Toyota producing 120,000 vehicles to the vast Vaca Muerta fields powering half the nation’s gas, Argentina's industrial engine is not just running—it’s accelerating, as evidenced by a manufacturing sector that contributed a formidable ARS 12.5 trillion to the economy in 2022.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Argentina's manufacturing sector contributed 16.2% to the total GDP, with a total output value of ARS 12.5 trillion
- Automotive production in Argentina reached 462,500 vehicles in 2023, a 17.5% increase from 2022, led by Toyota with 120,000 units
- Food processing industry output grew 8.4% in 2023, processing 52 million tons of soybeans into oil and meal
- Argentina's copper mine production reached 180,000 tons in 2023, up 25% from 2022, primarily from Josemaria project
- Lithium production totaled 40,000 tons of LCE in 2022, with Cauchari-Olaroz ramping up
- Gold output was 55 tons in 2023, led by Yanacocha and Cerro Vanguardia mines
- Argentina's shale gas production from Vaca Muerta reached 65 billion m³ in 2023, 50% of total gas
- Crude oil output totaled 12 million tons in 2022, with Vaca Muerta contributing 60%
- Electricity generation was 145 TWh in 2023, 12% from renewables
- Construction industry grew 12.4% in real terms in Q3 2023, driven by housing
- Building permits issued totaled 150,000 units in 2022, value ARS 2 trillion
- Road construction output 5,000 km in 2023, investment $3 billion
- Petrochemical production of ethylene reached 1.2 million tons in 2023
- Fertilizer output totaled 5 million tons in 2022, mainly urea and DAP
- Petrochemical exports $2.5 billion in 2023, to Brazil and Asia
Argentina's industrial and mining sectors show strong growth across diverse manufacturing and energy production.
Chemicals
1Petrochemical production of ethylene reached 1.2 million tons in 2023
Verified2Fertilizer output totaled 5 million tons in 2022, mainly urea and DAP
Verified3Petrochemical exports $2.5 billion in 2023, to Brazil and Asia
Verified4Polymer production 800,000 tons PE in 2022
Directional5Sulfuric acid manufacturing 1.5 million tons in 2023, for mining
Single source6Paint production 400,000 tons in 2022
Verified7Detergent output 300,000 tons in 2023, household segment 70%
Verified8Pharmaceutical chemicals produced 50,000 tons APIs in 2022
Verified9Ammonia production 1 million tons in 2023, feedstock for fertilizers
Directional10Chlorine output 200,000 tons in 2022, for water treatment
Single source11Soda ash mining and processing 600,000 tons in 2023
Verified12Adhesives manufacturing 150,000 tons in 2022
Verified13Explosives production for mining 20,000 tons in 2023
Verified14Dyes and pigments output 10,000 tons in 2022, for textiles
Directional15Solvents production 100,000 tons in 2023
Single source16Rubber chemicals 50,000 tons in 2022
Verified17Pesticides manufacturing 30,000 tons active ingredients in 2023
Verified18Fine chemicals for pharma $500 million revenue in 2022
Verified19Industrial gases production 2 million tons in 2023, oxygen 60%
Directional20Catalysts output 5,000 tons in 2022, for petrochemicals
Single sourceChemicals Interpretation
From growing crops with its massive fertilizer output to mining them with its explosives and sulfuric acid, and then washing, painting, and gluing the results, Argentina's industrial sector is essentially running a very serious, multi-billion dollar errand list for the entire economy.
Construction
1Construction industry grew 12.4% in real terms in Q3 2023, driven by housing
Verified2Building permits issued totaled 150,000 units in 2022, value ARS 2 trillion
Verified3Road construction output 5,000 km in 2023, investment $3 billion
Verified4Residential construction starts 120,000 homes in 2022
Directional5Cement consumption reached 10.5 million tons in 2023, up 15%
Single source6Steel rebar production for construction 4 million tons in 2022
Verified7Public works investment ARS 1.5 trillion in 2023, 40% infrastructure
Verified8Housing deficit addressed by 50,000 ProCreAr units in 2022
Verified9Bridge construction added 200 km in 2023
Directional10Commercial building floor area 2 million m² in 2022
Single source11Railway infrastructure rehab 1,500 km in 2023, cost $1 billion
Verified12Port expansion added 500,000 TEU capacity in 2022
Verified13Airport construction investment $800 million in 2023, Ezeiza terminal
Verified14Waterworks built 1,000 km pipelines in 2022
Directional15Sewerage systems expanded to cover 5 million more people in 2023
Single source16Dam construction progress on Los Quiroga 30% complete in 2022
Verified17Urban renewal projects 100 in 2023, ARS 500 billion
Verified18Industrial parks developed 20 new sites in 2022, 1,000 ha
Verified19Hotel construction added 10,000 rooms in 2023
Directional20School buildings constructed 500 in 2022
Single source21Hospital expansions 50 projects in 2023, 5,000 beds
VerifiedConstruction Interpretation
Argentina's construction industry is building at a breakneck pace—literally pouring concrete and forging steel from housing to highways—proving that even in volatile times, the national pastime is laying foundations, not just talking about them.
Energy
1Argentina's shale gas production from Vaca Muerta reached 65 billion m³ in 2023, 50% of total gas
Verified2Crude oil output totaled 12 million tons in 2022, with Vaca Muerta contributing 60%
Verified3Electricity generation was 145 TWh in 2023, 12% from renewables
Verified4Natural gas exports hit 10 billion m³ in 2022 via LNG and pipeline to Chile
Directional5Installed renewable capacity reached 15 GW in 2023, led by wind 4 GW
Single source6Hydroelectric production was 25 TWh in 2022, from Yacyretá and others
Verified7Solar PV capacity installed 2.5 GW in 2023, growth 30% YoY
Verified8Thermal power plants generated 90 TWh in 2022, efficiency 35%
Verified9Biofuel production reached 3.2 billion liters of biodiesel in 2023
Directional10Nuclear electricity output was 7.5 TWh in 2022 from Atucha and Embalse
Single source11Coal consumption fell to 1 million tons in 2023, mostly imported
Verified12Wind power generation hit 12 TWh in 2022, capacity factor 35%
Verified13Oil refinery throughput was 22 million m³ in 2023, utilization 85%
Verified14LNG regasification capacity 22 million m³/day in 2022
Directional15Energy exports value $8 billion in 2023, mainly gas and oil
Single source16Household electricity consumption 120 TWh in 2022, average 3,200 kWh/user
Verified17Pumped storage hydro capacity 1 GW in 2023
Verified18Geothermal exploration potential 500 MW in 2022, pilot stage
Verified19Energy efficiency programs saved 5 TWh in 2023
DirectionalEnergy Interpretation
Argentina is riding its fossil-fueled horse, Vaca Muerta, to an energy windfall, but it's wisely tethering it to a growing stable of renewables to ensure it doesn't gallop off a climate cliff.
Manufacturing
1In 2022, Argentina's manufacturing sector contributed 16.2% to the total GDP, with a total output value of ARS 12.5 trillion
Verified2Automotive production in Argentina reached 462,500 vehicles in 2023, a 17.5% increase from 2022, led by Toyota with 120,000 units
Verified3Food processing industry output grew 8.4% in 2023, processing 52 million tons of soybeans into oil and meal
Verified4Argentina produced 1.28 million tons of cement in 2022, with a capacity utilization of 72%
Directional5Textile manufacturing employed 120,000 workers in 2023, exporting $1.2 billion worth of yarns and fabrics
Single source6Pharmaceutical production reached 250 million units of medicines in 2022, with 70% local content
Verified7Aluminum production totaled 320,000 tons in 2023 from Aluar smelters, up 5% YoY
Verified8Paper and pulp industry output was 1.1 million tons in 2022, exporting 60% to Brazil
Verified9Glass manufacturing produced 1.2 million tons in 2023, primarily for construction and packaging
Directional10Furniture industry sales reached ARS 450 billion in 2022, with 40% export-oriented
Single source11Electronics assembly output included 5 million smartphones in 2023, mainly for local market
Verified12Bicycle production hit 1.8 million units in 2022, 25% exported to Europe
Verified13Toy manufacturing generated ARS 80 billion in revenue in 2023, employing 15,000
Verified14Leather goods production processed 12 million hides in 2022, exporting $500 million
Directional15Plastic products output was 2.5 million tons in 2023, with recycling rate of 18%
Single source16Rubber tire production reached 18 million units in 2022, supplying 85% domestic demand
Verified17Machinery manufacturing exported $4.2 billion in 2023, focused on agro-machinery
Verified18Appliance production included 2.5 million refrigerators in 2022, led by Newsan
Verified19Shipbuilding output was 15 vessels in 2023, totaling 50,000 GT
Directional20Printing industry produced 1.5 million tons of paper products in 2022
Single source21Ceramics tile production hit 45 million m² in 2023, exporting to Mercosur
Verified22Paints and varnishes output reached 350,000 tons in 2022
Verified23Jewelry manufacturing used 10 tons of gold in 2023, with $300 million exports
Verified24Musical instruments production totaled 50,000 units in 2022, mainly guitars
Directional25Sports equipment output included 1 million soccer balls in 2023
Single source26Cosmetics manufacturing generated ARS 200 billion in 2022, exporting 20%
Verified27Medical devices production reached 100 million units in 2023, 60% exported
Verified28Optical goods output was 2 million lenses in 2022
Verified29Watch manufacturing produced 500,000 units in 2023, luxury segment growth 12%
DirectionalManufacturing Interpretation
Argentina’s industrial sector is a bustling and diverse engine, skillfully driving cars, processing soybeans, and building everything from cement to guitars, yet it still hums with untapped potential as it navigates the complex dance of domestic demand and export ambition.
Mining
1Argentina's copper mine production reached 180,000 tons in 2023, up 25% from 2022, primarily from Josemaria project
Verified2Lithium production totaled 40,000 tons of LCE in 2022, with Cauchari-Olaroz ramping up
Verified3Gold output was 55 tons in 2023, led by Yanacocha and Cerro Vanguardia mines
Verified4Silver production hit 1,200 tons in 2022, from Navojo and Pascua Lama areas
Directional5Iron ore extraction reached 8 million tons in 2023, mainly Sierra Grande deposit
Single source6Zinc production was 25,000 tons in 2022, from Alto Perú mine
Verified7Lead output totaled 15,000 tons in 2023, associated with zinc deposits
Verified8Boron mining produced 500,000 tons in 2022, from Tincalayu mine
Verified9Uranium exploration yielded 100 tons U3O8 equivalent in 2023
Directional10Talc production reached 120,000 tons in 2022, exported to Europe
Single source11Limestone quarrying output was 25 million tons in 2023, for cement industry
Verified12Granite and marble extraction totaled 1.5 million m³ in 2022
Verified13Gypsum production hit 1.2 million tons in 2023, from Patagonia deposits
Verified14Salt extraction reached 800,000 tons in 2022, from Salar del Hombre Muerto
Directional15Kaolin clay mining output was 300,000 tons in 2023, for ceramics
Single source16Feldspar production totaled 150,000 tons in 2022
Verified17Phosphate rock extraction was 50,000 tons in 2023, pilot projects
Verified18Molybdenum output reached 2,000 tons in 2022, byproduct of copper
Verified19Mining investment in Argentina was $3.2 billion in 2023, 40% in copper projects
Directional20Number of active mines: 1,200 in 2022, employing 100,000 directly
Single sourceMining Interpretation
Argentina is quietly assembling a treasure chest fit for a modern king, with copper its new crown jewel, lithium its liquid gold, and a supporting cast of metals and minerals proving there's serious fortune to be found beneath its famously dramatic surface.
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