The Argentine government has announced a plan based on a concept in which everyone will agree in theory: A higher added value, more work, more technology, know-how, higher prices and access to more sophisticated markets.
For Argentina this will represent higher foreign exchange earnings that are needed to balance its trade balance and increase reserves. But there are some practical aspects, which are part of the Argentine reality, and it is there where the initial concept begins to fragment.
We are going to analyze some so that politicians and officials can improve their global analysis on this topic:
Costs and unions
Argentina is a country that has an excess of "unions" structure
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What some call "earned rights" in some cases is an overlap of union structures that hinder, on the one hand, the fluidity that every production process requires and, on the other, makes any undertaking more expensive, since in practice many more personnel are required than is required. used in countries where union pressure is very low or almost nil.
Going from a whole squid to a dry one leaves 82.5% of raw material on the way, which represents a very high added value ►
Just to give an example, in the 80's the
Jabob Group (Guillermo Jacob at the head) organized a production line of squid with high added value (surume or dried squid) to export directly to packing plants in Japan. The project had the collaboration of a Japanese technician, Kasuya Metoki, and was commercially successful, in theory, as several major Japanese companies showed rapid interest.
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At this time, the owner of the
Natori group (Koichi Natori) traveled to Argentina with his wife to see the recently inaugurated plant in Necochea and the two fresh jigger vessels that had been incorporated with the support of the KSJ group from Japan. Mitsubishi, Toyomenka and other major companies also joined in, even thinking of developing Softo-Daruma or Hakodate Kogane (seasoned and dried squid fillets).
► If the raw material is cooked and seasoned, the added value process is even higher
Why did the project fail?
In theory, the costs in Argentina were much lower than those in Japan and a worker's salary in the plant was around half that of that country
The production line was divided into sectors: reception of raw material, primary processing of raw material, secondary processing, drying line, packaging line, chambermaids, logistics personnel (forklifts and trucks), administration, cleaning and maintenance, etc. In summary, around 140 people who worked under different unions that imposed a clear limit to each stage or responsibility of the process (the one that transports fish cannot process and the one that processes cannot dry and the one that dries cannot bring it to the chamber).
In the north of Japan, in the Hakkodate area, the plants that carry out a similar process are located and for the same level of production only about 50 people are used who, it is worth noting, start working as soon as the ships arrive with raw material, they don't have unions and they do all the work that is necessary with a beautiful smile and thanks for having raw material to process and work.
Today Japanese companies process illex argentinean squid in chinese or Vietnamese processing plants where costs are low and the quality is very good.
Already here we can see that labor in Argentina is expensive and inefficient compared to other countries that consume high value-added products.
Hygiene and sanitary responsibility
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Another problem that a food company faces when it wants to increase added value and export to more sophisticated countries is consumer health responsibility.
For example, NATORI does not import finished products but, in some cases, it imports raw material with incorporated processes such as "dry squid" and then in its plants in Japan it carries out the final processes such as roasting, flavoring, cutting, packaging and control. quality.
Final consumer product of Natori. In this case dried and seasoned squid tentacles packaged to the public (usually sold in train stations or stores to be consumed as a snack) ►
Why this?
The one that puts the brand and reputation in the consumer market in this case is Natori and it cannot assume absolutely any risk that there is 1 hair (or hair) or a residue of paper, metal, plastic particles or bacteria in its products.
This point eliminates any intention of exporting final products ready to be consumed in countries with high added value, except that there are no other cheaper or safer options.
Investments and infrastructure
But the reality is different since if the same Italian buyer, a supermarket chain, decides to import the rings from the Netherlands, nobody carries out any control. So, what happens in practice? A squid ring processing plant in the Netherlands imports raw material from Argentina but instead of incorporating a 12-14% glaze it does so between 30-40% which makes the product cheaper by more than 1/3. (Cases have been seen up to 50% water)
There are more options to be competitive outside the European Community, Japan, the USA and other first world countries. Perhaps the key to success is here. However, the government and business chambers should resolve the first point that we have described since it is a very strong obstacle to productive development and the intention of winning markets.
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here is a natural "protection" for the local producer that occurs when a product passes customs and sanitary controls. The higher the added value, the more controls are carried out. Just to give an example, if a producer exports a frozen IQF product, the first thing they are going to measure is the% of water in the glaze. The regulations establish a limit and it is normal for there to be between 12 and 14%. So far so good because if an Argentine exporter happens to send frozen squid rings to Italy (rabas) in theory they have a product whose raw material is abundant, cheap and with a lot of demand in that market..jpeg)
The question here would be: What is best for the Italian supermarket? buy an Argentine product that is worth the same or even a little more expensive than the Dutch or buy from the Dutch and negotiate the% of water? (it can be the% of water or breading the case variant).jpg)
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other, that it was developing non-traditional markets. Arcor exports to countries where the fishing industry is not used to looking normally.
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