Damien Kantor
01/25/2021 19:29
Clarín.com
Economy
Updated 01/25/2021 7:29 PM
As part of the policy to manage the shortage of dollars, the Government delays and restricts authorizations for the entry of laptops and PCs,
which could cause shortages in the coming months
, according to manufacturers and specialized chains.
The problem coincides with
the rise in demand for computer equipment
during the pandemic due to the increase in home practices, such as home offices and distance education.
In 2020, around 1.5 million units were shipped, which represents
a 50% increase
compared to the previous year.
In parallel with the care of the Central Bank reserves and with
the objective of favoring local assembly and generating employment
, the Ministry of Productive Development has been evaluating
the possibility of applying a 16% tariff
to the entry of finished equipment, which mainly affects to the international brands that lead in the country, such as HP, Lenovo and Dell.
If this finally materializes (they say that next March), it implies the partial return of the promoted policy of
"import substitution" in
force until the end of 2015, when imported PCs were taxed at 35%.
Today they pay nothing.
Regarding the first point, industry sources describe that import restrictions impact brands, wholesalers and retail chains but
unevenly
.
"The obstacles began in November and
shipments are being held at Customs
waiting for an authorization from the Secretary of Commerce and they are gradually being released," lamented a senior executive.
He also added that the government argues that currently "there is a lot of stock in the market and that for the moment it is not necessary to import."
From a retail company they coincide with these assessments but emphasize that the situation could change from March, at the beginning of the high season of PC: "The demand increases that month with
the start of the school period
."
At the moment, in the sector they assure that
there are no notable shortages of products
, except in specific cases.
They even consider the official decision to manage foreign purchases to protect currencies "logical".
However, they highlight that each market player faces a different scenario.
"There are many small importers with
retained merchandise
, who bought on credit and who cannot fulfill the orders," they graph.
Concern about the situation is increasing restrictions.
Another aspect is the eventual tariff increase, something that has not yet been defined but that officials from the portfolio led by Matías Kulfas have been consulting for months with several local manufacturers, mainly from Tierra del Fuego.
However, the planned tariff modification does not contemplate the requirement to assemble computers on the island, but rather anywhere in the country.
"This time we do not plan to do it in the south due to high logistics costs,"
a Fuegian executive
told
Clarín
.
The tariff change is not minor.
The renewed segment of PCs in Argentina is led by international brands (Lenovo, HP, Dell, Acer and Asus), which account for 60% of total sales.
The remaining 40% is distributed by local labels, such as Banghó (PC Arts), Exo, Noblex and Compaq (Newsan group) and Positivo BGH, among others.
In the industry they believe that with the transfer to tax prices the percentages will be reversed.
The consultant Enrique Carrier analyzes that the tariff elimination did not produce the expected results.
"The computer market did not respond with a more diversified offer and more brands," he said.
With regard to import restrictions, the expert stated that "they do not surprise me because there are no dollars and there is no animosity against that sector."
