Overview
- At its monthly board meeting, the Unión Industrial Argentina warned that rising contraband is fueling informality, endangering consumers and undercutting firms that comply with taxes.
- The UIA’s research unit reported a preliminary 3% year‑over‑year drop in industrial activity in August, following a 2.3% monthly decline in July, with tight credit and high rates weighing on output.
- Sector data cited by the group included a beer industry finding that 40% of surveyed stock in AMBA lacked legal origin and a tobacco chamber estimate of 1.4 million adult vape users despite a sales ban.
- Business leaders criticized customs rules that allow seized goods to reenter the market through auctions without sanitary controls and flagged online platform loopholes that enable untaxed apparel and footwear sales.
- UIA said it met with the Security Ministry on border operations, equipment and training, and is pushing for a rapid legal review alongside tax and credit measures to bolster competitiveness.