Overview
- Imports via courier reached a new high of US$125 million in June, a 73.8% year‑on‑year rise that helped push first‑half 2026 volumes to US$643 million, up 104.2% from the same period last year.
- The administration last week equalized Correo Argentino’s operating rules with private couriers, raised the tax‑free allowance per shipment from US$50 to US$400 with a five‑shipment cap, kept the option to buy up to US$3,000 with duties paid, and removed value limits for small‑business exports by post.
- Though courier flows still represent only about 1.8% of total imports and 13.5% of consumer‑goods purchases, monthly postal arrivals now equal roughly 40% of mall sales in clothing, electronics, furniture, decoration and toys, intensifying direct competition in those categories.
- Greater foreign supply has driven down relative prices for durables, with analyst estimates showing electronics about 57% cheaper and clothing about 42% cheaper versus the general price level, but lower‑income households benefit less because they spend more on food and services.
- The surge is already linked to falling sales and job losses in exposed retail and industrial chains and to sharp rises in specific imports such as smartphones, so policymakers and producers should expect continued sectoral disruption and watch for further shifts in local production and employment.