RAFAELA

Location

Rafaela is located in the Argentine Pampas plain. It is the capital of the Castellanos department and the third largest city in the province of Santa Fe. Located in the heart of the country, with its agricultural and industrial activities, it concentrates the majority of the population and the most important economic activities. Today, it has approximately 103,000 inhabitants. 46.5% of the population is under 30 years old.

Economic Development and Institutional Framework

The city’s local economic development experience is notable for the result of a long historical process of institutional construction.

Inter-business relations have been strengthened thanks to the efforts of the public and private sectors in developing an appropriate and growing environment for business development.

Companies in Rafaela and the region have developed an advanced and very early concept of internationalization in foreign trade.

Approximately 500 industries currently make up the city’s productive base. There are 46 companies exporting to approximately 90 destinations worldwide.

The sectors with the largest export volumes are food and auto parts. These two sectors represent more than 90% of the city’s exports, followed by agricultural machinery and equipment for the food industry.

The value of the average ton in Rafaela is distinctive, exceeding USD 4,000, compared to the average for the Province of Santa Fe at USD 660 and the national average at USD 770.

Infrastructure and services for internationalization

The Rafaela customs office has been operating for more than 15 years, its main function being to streamline export and import operations. It handles more than 70% of operations.

CLIR (Rafaela International Logistics Center) was developed in 2021 and opened for operation in 2023. It is a designated space for transportation, storage, and distribution of goods, both for domestic and international transit. This type of infrastructure is crucial for supply chain efficiency, optimizing the movement of products and facilitating global trade.