Food Industry
The crucial development of primary production facilitates the progress of the food industry. In the province of Cordoba there are 1,500 factories that produce a wide variety of food products, among which include candy, soft drinks, confectionary sweets and marmalades, pastas, edible olives, deli meats, spices and condiments.

Furthermore, important enterprises are aimed at gourmet and delicatessen products with certified organic norms. Specifically, Halal and Kosher allow provincial products to enter into non-traditional markets such as Japan and Israel.

On the other hand, Cordoba, along with Santa Fe, forms a part of the main dairy basin in Argentina. There are around 350 plants in the province dedicated to the industrialization of milk. In 2007, the production level reached 2,700 million liters. Cheeses, powdered milk and fresh products like yogurt, desserts and caramel custard play the main role in this industry.

Food products from Cordoba are renowned not only in the Argentine market but also in international trade. Businesspeople of differing countries choose it for its quality and competitive prices.

Principales destinos de las exportaciones Cordobesas de alimentos

Fuente: Agencia ProCórdoba. Información técnica y comercial en base a datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Indec) 104,4%

Participación de los alimentos en el total de las exportaciones

Fuente: Agencia ProCórdoba. Información técnica y comercial en base a datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Indec)

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Peanut Production

The peanut industry constitutes a clearly export-based regional economy that consists of 10 thousand job positions throughout the country. Argentina is the world’s second leading peanut exporter after China, with a total of 450 thousand tons of confectionary peanuts sold to foreign markets in 2007. Today, the industry generates a foreign currency income of over 450 million dollars annually.

In particular, Cordoba is the country’s main peanut producer. The activity involves the center-south of the province where 95% is grown. This production volume and the nutritive quality of the peanuts cultivated influenced the creation of the brand that allows the product to be recognized in the world by its origin. This is how Argentine peanuts came to be internationally known as MANI CORDOBA.

Of all peanut exports, 70% are destined for the European Union (principally Holland, Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Greece and France). The rest is sold to countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, India, Chile, Algeria, Russia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Brazil and Australia.

Los 10 principales destinos del maní cordobés
Porcentaje de participación en relación al total exportado. Total de toneladas exportadas en 2007: 422.748 tn.Fuente: Cámara Argentina del Maní en base a datos del Servicio Nacional de Sanidad (Senasa).

Evolución de las exportaciones cordobesas en toneladas. Período 2002-2007

Fuente: Cámara Argentina del Maní en base a datos del Servicio Nacional de Sanidad (Senasa).

Aeronautical Industry

Cordoba is the center of the aeronautical industry in Argentina. With the installation of the Military Airplane Factory in 1927, it began to develop this productive sector and its respective network of suppliers.

Following the diverse circumstances that this industrial sector went through, the Provincial Government is re-launching the aeronautical activity, decidedly assisting in the development and consolidation of aero parts companies. In this way, an offset law is being applied to establish and industrial and technological compensation mechanism regarding the nation’s investments in aeronautical material.

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Agricultural Machinery Industry

The production of argricultural machinery is another of the province’s strengths. Of the 650 factories in the sector that exist in the country, Cordoba is home to 25%. These companies are principally located in cities and small towns in the interior part of the province.

The exportation of agricultural machinery represents 20% of the foreign national sales. The main export destinations are Venezuela, Uruguay, the United Status, Australia, South Africa, Brazil and Bolivia.

Machines to work the soil—sowing machines, planters, and others—are some of the main export products of the sector, along with combine harvesters and threshing machines. On the other hand, the production of direct-sowing machines that modify the systems of agricultural exploitation in Argentina should also be highlighted since Cordoba is a main regional center for this industry.

Principales destinos de las exportaciones de máquinas agrícolas.

Fuente: Agencia ProCórdoba. Información técnica y comercial en base a datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Indec)

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Automotive Industry

Among other industries, the province is one of the pioneers in automobile production. The sector is made up of terminal businesses and auto parts producers. In the area surrounding the capital city, Renault, Fiat and Volkswagen all have production plants. Likewise, there exist around 250 auto parts makers that distribute to the terminals, with almost three-fourths of them concentrated in the province’s capital.

During 2007, auto production increased 40%, bringing the total number of vehicles produced to 71 thousand. It is estimated that with the investments made this year, the sector will double the amount of automobiles manufactured.

Autopartes: principales productos exportados

Fuente: Agencia ProCórdoba. Información técnica y comercial en base a datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Indec)

Autopartes: principales destinos

Fuente: Agencia ProCórdoba. Información técnica y comercial en base a datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Indec)

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Biofuel Production

It's important to highlight the strides Cordoba has made in the research, development and production of biofuels in Argentina. For more than 20 years, scientists and local businesspeople have investigated and studied alternative products for this growing sector.

Here soybeans and corn are produced, two of the exponents in the production of biofuel. The province opportunely adhered to National Law 26.093 that established a promotion and regulation regimen for the use of biofuels. This Standard established that as of 2010 all liquid fuels (gasoline and diesel fuel) that are sold in the country must be mixed with at least five percent bioethanol and biodiesel of the total quantity of the final product.

This way, the provincial strategy is that by the year 2012, 120 million liters of biodiesel and 60 million liters of bioethanol should be produced annually, what would represent 25% of the total national need to cover the 5% minimum that must be combined with traditional fuels.

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Shoe, Leather and Leather Goods Industry

In Cordoba there are around 240 shoe factories operating (small and mid-sized companies) that employ 3,500 people. These producers marked a milestone in 2007 for increasing production from 18.4 million to 20.7 million pairs.

Furthermore, in this inland region there exists a large quantity of enterprises dedicated to leather works. Products such as jackets, belts, wallet, purses and artisan crafts are found in the local and international markets.

Principales destinos de las exportaciones cordobesas de calzado

Fuente: Agencia ProCórdoba. Información técnica y comercial en base a datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Indec)

Principales destinos de las exportaciones cordobesas de manufacturas de cuero y marroquinería

Fuente: Agencia ProCórdoba. Información técnica y comercial en base a datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Indec)

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Industria informática, tecnológica, de software y telecomunicaciones

Cordoba was the first province to consider this field an industry and showed this by granting employment and electrical energy consumption subsidies and benefits such as tax exemption and the concession of preferential credit lines.

The technological sector grew by an accumulated 10% annually between the years 2001 and 2005. In five years, Cordoba developed a software and new technology industry that today include more than 300 companies that generate 6,500 jobs.

The rate of growth in software and services in Argentina and, especially in Cordoba, between 2005 and 2009 will be 54%, compared to the 24% in the whole of Latin America and 6% in Brazil.

Several large IT companies opened offices in the province, such as Intel, EDS, Gameloft, Datasul, Motorola and Indra. Also, around 100 local businesses in the sector make up the CLUSTER CORDOBA TECHNOLOGY.

For the development of small and mid-sized companies devoted to technology, the Provincial Government designed a special program that includes benefits such as: contributions for the construction of corporate buildings and electric energy consumption, economic assistance for each job position created, subsidies for personnel training, the implementation of basic and necessary infrastructure works, etc.

Furthermore, there are 16 call center companies which employ over 18 thousand people. The sector represents 80 million dollars in exports and provides the service to principally the United States and Spain.

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Wood Industry

Cordoba is known for having a forest-industrial sector developed from an approximate planted surface of 30 thousand hectares and complemented by a robust group of second transformation companies that places it in the national scene not only for its volume produced but especially for its design and quality.

In 2007 the wood industry’s activity increased 50% compared to the previous year. As a consequence, employment within the companies increased by 20%.

Principales destinos de las exportaciones cordobesas de muebles*

Fuente: Agencia ProCórdoba. Información técnica y comercial en base a datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Indec).

* Partidas escogidas: 940161, 940169, 940330, 940350, 940360, 391890, 392190, 940340, 940390.

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Mining Industry

According to the data from the Nation's Mining Secretary, Cordoba participates in over 10% of the country's overall production.

Among the minerals and rocks commonly found in these soils, it is possible to find quartz, feldspar, beryl, gneiss, granite, fluorite, muscovite, spodumene, marble, tonalite, steatite, vermiculite, dolomite, arsenic and gabbro.

Principales destinos de las exportaciones cordobesas de manufacturas de yeso, piedra y productos cerámicos

Fuente: Agencia ProCórdoba. Información técnica y comercial en base a datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Indec).

Principales destinos de las exportaciones cordobesas de piedras, metales preciosos y sus manufacturas

Fuente: Agencia ProCórdoba. Información técnica y comercial en base a datos del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (Indec)

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