IMF...............................................WB.....................................................CIA
rank/measure..........................rank/measure................................rank/measure
66/6,609..............................56/6,641.............................................68/6,402
Economy and Trade
Argentina is rich in natural
resources with a geological and climatic situation particularly suitable for
developing forestry, agriculture, mining and fisheries. It also boasts of large
petroleum, gas and uranium reserves.
Agriculture: Argentina is
famous for its agricultural production. With over 54 million head of cattle,
Argentina’s beef is renowned around the world. Annual production of cereals and
oilseeds exceeds 70 million tonnes, which makes Argentina one of the main
exporters of these products and their derivatives. One of the country's largest
sheep grazing regions, which is also one of the largest regions for growing
fruit and vegetables, is found in Patagonia, in the south. The typical farms
associated with this production are surprisingly similar to those found in
Australia.
Mendoza on the western
border is the centre of wine production. Argentina is the worlds fifth-largest
producer of wine. Most Argentineans drink wine with every meal, a traditional
custom introduced by the European immigration. Exports are continually
growing,
Mining: The Andean Mountains
provide Argentina with rich mineral deposits. Some of the minerals which are
being mined at present are, copper, tin, lead, zinc, gold, silver, and uranium.
The main exploitation of copper and gold, Minera de la Alumbrera, in the
Province of Catamarca, is an Australian venture.
Gas and Oil: are important
resources being increasingly exported to the neighbouring countries and to the
world market. Together with mining products they make out for 15% of total
exports.
The industrial sector
includes manufacturing and construction. Among Argentina’s manufactured goods
are processed food, textiles, clothing, metallic and non-metallic mineral
products, wood products, paper, pharmaceutical products, chemicals and
petrochemical products, aluminium, steel, cars, electrical machinery and
appliances, machine tools, turbines, cranes, agriculture machinery, and space
and nuclear products.
Construction, engineering
and consultancy activities have developed to an important stage, extending to
the Latin-American market and other countries.
Land: Public transport
includes buses, railways and subways. Most of Argentina's goods are transported
by truck although railways are becoming increasingly important in the
transportation of domestic cargo.
Air: The most widely-known
national airline is Aerolineas Argentinas which has been operating for more than
60 years. It covers nearly all the domestic routes and has also an important
continental and inter-continental network. There are also other private airlines
that have been growing in recent years. Aerolineas Argentinas offers three
direct flights a week between Sydney and Buenos Aires, with a short stopover in
Auckland, New Zealand.
Water: There are numerous
coastal and international ocean and river companies that offer freight or
passenger transport. Several Ocean Lines serve the route between Australian and
Argentinean ports.
Postal and
telecommunications services are run by private enterprises which have been
operating in free competition since the beginning of 2000. The first post office
opened in 1814. Satellite tracking stations and digital technology provide
domestic and international telephone communications linked to every country in
the world. There are about 40 television stations and 200 radio stations in
Argentina.
Argentina's exports, which
reached 30 billion $US in 2003, are composed of 24% primary agricultural
commodities, 13% fuels and minerals, 36% processed agricultural products and
foodstuffs, and 27% industrial products.
