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“It’s a huge pride”: the Entre Ríos SME that entered Europe with the first Argentine product free of taxes
🇦🇷 Argentina /Economy & Trade

“It’s a huge pride”: the Entre Ríos SME that entered Europe with the first Argentine product free of taxes

From La Nación · (12m ago) Spanish Positive tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Apícola Danangie, a family-run SME from Entre Ríos, Argentina, has achieved a historic milestone by exporting the first container of Argentine honey to Europe tariff-free under the Mercosur-EU agreement.
  • The 22,000-kilo shipment coincided with the agreement's implementation, marking a significant opportunity for the company, which has been exporting honey for over three decades.
  • The company, employing 100 families, has integrated its production cycle, from beekeeping to logistics, and overcame regional challenges like high honey moisture content through investment in processing.

A proud moment for Argentine entrepreneurship shines as Apícola Danangie, a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) from Concordia, Entre Ríos, makes history. This family business, which began humbly over three decades ago, has successfully exported the first container of Argentine honey to Europe without incurring the previously hefty 17.3% tariff. This achievement is a direct result of the new trade framework established by the Mercosur-European Union agreement.

That was the first container that entered under the new scheme. We send six or seven containers weekly to Europe. That shipment was already traveling and it just coincided with the elimination of tariffs. It was 22,000 kilos.

— Fernando VairolattiExplaining the timing of the tariff-free honey shipment to Europe.

Fernando Vairolatti, a partner in the company, described the timing as serendipitous, with the 22,000-kilo shipment coinciding precisely with the agreement's entry into force. However, he emphasized that this success is built on years of dedicated national production integration, a strong export focus, and the cultivation of trust with European buyers. Apícola Danangie's journey exemplifies the resilience and potential of Argentine businesses operating in the global market.

We chose to work with few clients and grow in volume with them, without diversifying too much. We work with all of them with a lot of trust. Many times they pay us for the containers before they leave.

— Fernando VairolattiDescribing the company's client relationship strategy.

Today, the company is a testament to sustained growth and vertical integration. Employing 100 families, it manages the entire production chain, from beekeeping and honey processing to manufacturing hives and even its own logistics. This comprehensive approach has allowed them to overcome specific regional challenges, such as the higher moisture content of local honey, by investing in advanced processing techniques. Their success story is not just about exports; it's about creating stable employment and fostering economic development within their region, showcasing a model of sustainable business growth in Argentina.

We try to close the entire cycle.

— Fernando VairolattiSummarizing the company's integrated production model.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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