Toys Argentines have regained ground against imports from China.
could be a toy store in New York, London and Santiago. If anything they have in common toys in most of the world today is its origin: the vast majority are "Made in China."
Argentina is no exception. Here also most related to market is cornered by the recreational products from China.
However, in recent years the battle has local production and has recovered a significant portion of the market.
ArgentinaAccording to the Chamber of Toy Industries (CAIJA), the locally manufactured products now account for 35% of the total of sales, a figure that is increasing.
The number speaks for a significant recovery over the '90s, when the toys Argentina came to represent only 5% of the market.
During that time, when, thanks to the "convertibility" - the value of the Argentine peso was equal to the U.S. dollar closed some 190 factories in the country, almost 80% of the total.
There are currently about 105 companies dedicated to make toys, plus another 30 who work on a small scale.
growth of local industry is also reflected outside the borders, with an increase in exports to other Southern Cone countries, including Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, as well as Mexico and the United States. Competitive advantages
According to Argentine manufacturers, the resurgence of the local industry can be attributed to two main reasons: price and quality. Matthias
Furio, toy producer and deputy secretary of CAIJA said the BBC that the devaluation of the Argentine peso against the other currencies in the region, from the economic crisis of 2001, increased external demand for local goods.
The strength of Asians are all toys that have mechanisms, but Argentina has more skilled labor thereby offering better quality products
Matías Furio, Argentine manufacturer of toys.
However, Furio, the main factor enabling the industry to Argentina to face the onslaught of competition from China, which is estimated to represent 70% of the international market, is the level of completion of products.
"The strength of Asians are all toys that have mechanisms, but Argentina has more skilled labor thereby offering better quality products," says the manufacturer. Educational games
One of the most sought niches that quality differentiation is the toy market dedicated to children.
"In games, Baby is important that the pieces do not come out and that the products have undergone a rigorous process of security," said Fury. There
local industry has a strong advantage over Chinese products, which many cases are not subject to full inspections.
The smaller market is also considered the most potential among farmers, because today the older children are increasingly turned over to the entertainment technology provided by computers, DVDs and video games.
That explains why Argentina have proliferated in recent years businesses dedicated to educational games for children. Most Searched
toy sellers polled by BBC World, the majority of parents who come to the business are looking for games related to characters from movies or television.
The toy industry in Argentina has recovered from the early morning.
preferable
There are major world producers of toys like Mattel (Barbie's creator) and Hasbro (which makes the products of the Power Rangers, etc.).
However, an increasing number of local manufacturers to obtain international licenses to produce toys based on characters from fiction.
The lack of Argentine children's characters is offset by the enduring popularity of some indigenous games, especially the table, as the rancher, the Game of the Goose or Trick cards.
nostalgia also plays a part, with the return of some classic games of yesteryear, such as plastic bricks Rasti, the local version of Lego.
But when the favorites, nothing has changed: girls prefer dolls and boys toy cars. Hence the struggle between the local and foreign industry continues.
