The National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) reported that the utilization of installed capacity in the manufacturing industry reached 61.0% in October 2025. This marks a decline of 2 percentage points from the same month in 2024 and 0.1 points from September. The textile sector saw the largest year-over-year drop.
According to the INDEC report, the utilization of installed capacity in industry stood at 61.0% during October 2025, below the 63.0% in October 2024 and the 61.1% in September 2025. This indicator reflects production activity relative to the total available capacity in factories.
The textile products manufacturing sector experienced the largest year-over-year decline, dropping from 47.8% in 2024 to 32.5% in October 2025. In contrast, petroleum refining rose from 79.1% to 82.2%.
Other sectoral blocks exceeded the general average, such as petroleum refining (82.2%), basic metal industries (71.1%), food products and beverages (68.7%), chemical substances and products (63.6%), and paper and cardboard (62.3%). Below the general level were non-metallic mineral products (60.5%), automotive industry (56.1%), publishing and printing (53.2%), metalworking except motor vehicles (48.2%), tobacco products (42.9%), rubber and plastic products (42.6%), and textiles (32.5%).
The main negative year-over-year incidences were observed in paper and cardboard manufacturing, which fell to 62.3% from 72.9% in 2024, due to lower production of packaging and containers. Rubber and plastic products declined to 42.6% from 48.9%, due to reductions in plastic manufactures and tires.
From the Center for Production Studies (CEPEC), these figures are seen as showing 'an industry that is not retreating, but also not managing to take off'. They add that 'October practically repeats the level of September and confirms a scenario where domestic demand continues to be the main limiter, while the impetus remains concentrated in a limited group of more dynamic sectors'.
