The leading companies in the sector warned regarding the complicated panorama that might affect the sector and the population. The lack of dollars to import the product caused the sector to ask for an urgent negotiation with the holder of the central bank, Miguel Ángel Pesce, to unlock the conflict. Argentina imports 100% of what is consumed from Brazil.
The conflict arises because the BCRA does not have enough foreign currency to meet the request of the coffee companies, which predict greater problems. Such is the case of a company that warned that if the situation continues, it will have to close 40% of its premises.
On the other hand, the cost of café at the international level doubled its value by a significant drop in the harvest in Brazil due to frost and drought, which spoiled production. In addition, the consumption of this input increased exponentially in coffee consumption following the pandemic in Europe and the United States.
As reported by the portal Professionalunder this scenario of consumption growth, the importers asked the Central Bank around US$300 million to bring the input. But, according to the businessmen, the agency would have informed them that they would only have half of that sum. That is to say: the same amount of foreign currency as last year, which today would hardly be enough to buy half of the coffee, given the explosive increase in the price of the raw material at the international level.
Next Thursday a meeting will be held between officials of the Central Bank and members of the sectoral chamber, which will aim to unblock the situation
