Industrial exports reached US$3.178 billion during the first four months of 2022, setting a historical benchmark over a similar period in previous years.
In fact, there was an increase of 26.7% compared to the same period in 2021 and 32.3% above the result obtained a decade ago, the
National Society of Industries' (SNI) Institute of Economic and Social Studies (IEES) reported on Friday.
"This historical milestone in terms of industrial exports, which for the first time exceed US$3 billion in the first four-month period, was driven by the dynamism of sectors, such as non-metallic minerals, metal-mechanics, textiles and clothing, chemicals and iron-steel, in addition to jewelry,"
SNI Chairman Jesus Salazar specified.
Concerning exports value, the shipments of products from sectors, such as chemicals (US$720 million), iron and steel and jewelry (US$637 million), fishing (US$614 million), non-metallic minerals (US$267 million), and metal mechanics (US$202 million) stood out as they reached unprecedented FOB values.
Salazar highlighted the recovery of sales abroad by the textile-clothing sector, which reached US$585 million during the first four months of 2022 —an increase of 30.8% compared to the same period of the previous year.
"However, these figures still remain 12.2% below the value exported during the first four months of 2012, the year in which foreign sales by this sector reached a historical peak," he explained.
Likewise, exports of wood and paper amounted to US$108 million between January and April of this year and registered a growth of 22.3% over the same term in 2021; however, they are still 22.3% below the sales registered in the same period of 2014 (US$139 million).