Construction in Argentina rose by 8% in October compared to the same month in 2024. Since the beginning of the year, the sector has only been in negative territory in January (-1.4%). This trend shows that while construction is in positive territory, the industrial sector is not rebounding and continues to decline since July.
In the first ten months of the year, construction shows a 7.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Despite the increase compared to October of the previous year, the Synthetic Index of Construction Activity (ISAC) fell by 0.5% compared to September.
Compared to the same month of the previous year, eight of the thirteen construction inputs increased in October: ready-mixed concrete, ceramic sanitary ware, asphalt, granite and limestone tiles, construction paints, other inputs, round iron and construction steels, and Portland cement. Meanwhile, gypsum, hollow bricks, ceramic floors and coverings, quicklime, and gypsum boards showed annual decreases.
Here are the numbers for the inputs one by one:
- Ready-mixed concrete: +40.7%
- Ceramic sanitary ware: +35.7%
- Asphalt: +33.6%
- Granite and limestone tiles: +24.5%
- Construction paints: +13.1%
- Other inputs: +12.4%
- Round iron and construction steels: +7.7%
- Portland cement: +7.5%
- Gypsum boards: -0.6%
- Quicklime: -3.6%
- Ceramic floors and coverings: -6.4%
- Hollow bricks: -6.9%
- Gypsum: -11.2%
The results obtained from the qualitative construction survey show unfavorable expectations regarding the level of activity expected for the period November 2025-January 2026.
Private construction: * 68.5% of companies carrying out private works expect that the level of activity in the sector will not change in the next three months. * 21% estimate that it will decrease. * The remaining 10.5% are optimistic and expect it to increase.
Public construction: * 59.8% estimate that the level of activity will not change during the period surveyed. * 24.7% believe it will decrease. * 15.5% expect it to increase.
Industry continues to stagnate The Manufacturing Production Index (IPI) shows a decrease of 2.9% in October compared to the same month of 2024. The same is true when compared to September, decreasing by 0.8% monthly. However, in the January-October accumulated period, it rose by 3.1% compared to the same period of the previous year.
With this drop, it marks the consolidated trend that began in the seventh month of the year, positioning the sector in negative territory: -0.8%, -4.3%, -0.5%, and -2.9% for July, August, September, and October, respectively.
Here are the numbers for the industry one by one:
- Other transport equipment: +11.4%
- Petroleum refining, coke and local fuel: +3.2%
- Other equipment, appliances and instruments: +2%
- Non-metallic mineral products: +1.1%
- Basic metals: +0.9%
- Chemicals and chemical products: -0.4%
- Furniture and mattresses, and other manufacturing industries: -1.5%
- Food and beverages: -1.7%
- Machinery and equipment: -2.2%
- Wood, paper, publishing and printing: -3.4%
- Motor vehicles, bodies, trailers and parts: -4.1%
- Metal products: -8.1%
- Rubber and plastic products: -12%
- Tobacco products: -12.4%
- Clothing, leather and footwear: -15.1%
- Textiles: -24%
While the industry continues to stagnate: it fell 2.9% year-on-year and marks the fourth consecutive month of decline. The data accessed by the Argentine News Agency were released by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC).
