Metalmecánica y manufactura liviana

¿Qué consideramos Metalmecánica y manufactura liviana?

En el registro comercial y encuestas del INE

Fundición de hierro y acero
Fundición de metales no ferrosos
Fabricación de productos metálicos para uso estructural (construcción)
Fabricación de tanques, calderas, depósitos y recipientes de metal
Fabricación de generadores de vapor, excepto calderas de agua caliente para calefacción central
Forja, prensado, estampado y laminado de metales; pulvimetalurgia
Tratamiento a metales: revestimiento, torneado, soldadura, enchapado, grabado, pulido, herrería y actividades afines
Fabricación de artículos de cuchillería
Fabricación de herramientas de mano y artículos de ferretería
Fabricación de utensilios de mesa y de cocina
Fabricación de envases de productos metálicos
Fabricación de artículos de alambre, clavos, tornillos, arandelas, pernos y otros
Fabricación de artículos de metal de uso doméstico
Fabricación de productos metálicos n.c.p.
Fabricación de maquinaria para la conformación de metales, de máquinas herramienta y sus partes y piezas
Fabricación de maquinaria metalúrgica

En la Encuesta de Empresas del Banco Mundial

Fundición de hierro y acero
Fundición de metales no ferrosos
Fabricación de productos metálicos para uso estructural
Fabricación de tanques, depósitos y recipientes de metal
Fabricación de generadores de vapor, excepto calderas de agua caliente para calefacción central
Forja, prensado, estampado y laminado de metales; pulvimetalurgia
Tratamiento y revestimiento de metales; maquinado
Fabricación de artículos de cuchillería, herramientas de mano y artículos de ferretería
Fabricación de otros productos elaborados de metal n.c.p.
Fabricación de maquinaria para la conformación de metales y de máquinas herramienta
Fabricación de maquinaria metalúrgica

En registros de crédito

fundicion de hierro y acero
fundicion de metales no ferrosos
fabricacion de productos metalicos para uso estructural
fabricacion de tanques depositos y recipientes de metal
fabricacion de generadores de vapor excepto calderas de agua caliente para calefaccion central
forja prensado estampado y laminado de metales; pulvimetalurgia
tratamiento y revestimiento de metales; obras de ingenieria mecanica en general realizadas a cambio de una retribucion o contrata
fabricacion de articulos de cuchilleria herramientas de mano y articulos de ferreteria
fabricacion de envases de productos metalicos
fabricacion de productos metalicos ncp
fabricacion de maquinas herramienta
fabricacion de maquinaria metalurgica

En registros de comercio internacional

Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof: bridges and bridge-sections
Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, towers and lattice masts
Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, doors, windows and their frames and thresholds for doors
Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, props and similar equipment for scaffolding, shuttering or pit-propping
Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, n.e.s. in heading no. 7308
Reservoirs, tanks, vats and similar containers: for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), of iron or steel, capacity exceeding 300l, whether or not lined or heat insulated
Tanks, casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar containers, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), 50l or more capacity but not exceeding 300l
Cans: which are to be closed by soldering or crimping, for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas), less than 50l capacity, of iron or steel
Tanks, casks, drums, boxes and similar containers for any material (excluding compressed or liquefied gas) less than 50l capacity, n.e.s. in item no. 7310.2, of iron or steel
Containers for compressed or liquefied gas, of iron or steel
Iron or steel: nails, tacks, drawing pins, corrugated nails, staples (not those of heading no. 8305) and the like, with heads of other material or not, but excluding articles with heads of copper
Iron or steel: threaded coach screws
Iron or steel: threaded wood screws other than coach screws
Iron or steel: threaded screw hooks and screw rings
Iron or steel: threaded self-tapping screws
Iron or steel: threaded screws and bolts n.e.s. in item no. 7318.1, whether or not with their nuts or washers
Iron or steel: threaded nuts
Iron or steel: threaded screws, bolts and nuts n.e.s. in item no. 7318.1
Iron or steel: non-threaded spring washers and other lock washers
Iron or steel: non-threaded washers, excluding spring and lock
Iron or steel: non-threaded rivets
Iron or steel: non-threaded cotters and cotter-pins
Iron or steel: non-threaded articles, n.e.s. in item no. 7318.2
Iron or steel: wool, pot scourers and scouring or polishing pads, gloves and the like
Cast iron: table, kitchen and other household articles and parts thereof, of cast iron, not enamelled
Cast iron: table, kitchen and other household articles and parts thereof, of cast iron, enamelled
Steel, stainless: table, kitchen and other household articles and parts thereof
Iron (excluding cast) or steel: table, kitchen and other household articles and parts thereof, enamelled
Iron or steel: table, kitchen and other household articles and parts thereof, of iron or steel n.e.s. in heading no. 7323
Steel: sinks and wash basins, of stainless steel
Cast iron, baths, whether or not enamelled
Iron (other than cast) or steel: baths
Iron or steel: sanitary ware and parts thereof, excluding sinks, wash basins and baths
Iron: articles of non-malleable cast iron
Iron: grinding balls and similar articles for mills, other than of non-malleable cast iron
Iron or steel: cast articles, excluding grinding balls and similar articles for mills, other than of non-malleable cast iron
Iron or steel: articles n.e.s. in heading no. 7326
Aluminium: structures (excluding prefabricated buildings of heading no. 9406) and parts of structures, doors, windows and their frames and thresholds for doors
Aluminium: structures (excluding prefabricated buildings of heading no. 9406) and parts of structures, n.e.s. in heading no. 7610, plates, rods, profiles, tubes and the like
Aluminium: reservoirs, tanks, vats and similar containers, for material (not compressed or liquefied gas), of a capacity over 300l, whether or not lined, not fitted with mechanical/thermal equipment
Aluminium: collapsible tubular containers, for any material, (not compressed or liquefied gas), 300l capacity or less, whether or not lined, not fitted with mechanical/thermal equipment
Aluminium: casks, drums, cans, boxes and the like for any material (not compressed or liquefied gas), 300l capacity or less, whether or not lined or heat-insulated, no mechanical or thermal equipment
Aluminium: containers for compressed or liquefied gas
Aluminium: table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, pot scourers and scouring or polishing pads, gloves and the like
Aluminium: sanitary ware and parts thereof
Aluminium: nails, tacks, staples (other than those of heading no. 8305) screws, bolts, nuts, screw hooks, rivets, cotters, cotter-pins, washers and similar articles
Tools, hand: spades and shovels
Tools, hand: forks
Tools, hand: mattocks, picks, hoes and rakes
Tools, hand: axes, bill hooks and similar hewing tools, of a kind used in agriculture, horticulture or forestry
Tools, hand: one-handed secateurs (including poultry shears)
Tools, hand: hedge shears, two-handed pruning shears and similar two-handed shears
Tools, hand: n.e.s. in heading no. 8201, of a kind used in agriculture, horticulture or forestry
Tools, hand: hand saws
Tools, hand: band saw blades
Tools, hand: circular saw blades (including slitting or slotting saw blades), with working part of steel
Tools, hand: circular (including slitting or slotting) saw blades, with working part of materials other than steel
Tools, hand: chain saw blades
Tools, hand: straight saw blades, for working metal
Tools, hand: saw blades n.e.s. in heading no. 8202
Tools, hand: files, rasps and similar tools
Tools, hand: pliers (including cutting pliers), pincers, tweezers and similar tools
Tools, hand: metal cutting shears and similar tools
Tools, hand: pipe-cutters, bolt croppers, perforating punches and similar tools
Tools, hand: hand-operated spanners and wrenches (including torque meter wrenches but not including tap wrenches), non-adjustable
Tools, hand: hand-operated spanners and wrenches (including torque meter wrenches but not including tap wrenches), adjustable
Tools, hand: interchangeable spanner sockets, with or without handles
Tools, hand: drilling, threading or tapping tools
Tools, hand: hammers and sledge hammers
Tools, hand: planes, chisels, gauges and similar cutting tools for working wood
Tools, hand: screwdrivers
Tools, hand: household
Tools, hand: other than household tools
Tools, hand: blow lamps
Tools, hand: vices, clamps and the like
Tools, hand: anvils, portable forges, hand or pedal-operated grinding wheels with frameworks
Tools, hand: sets, of articles of two or more of the foregoing items
Tools, hand: two or more of heading no. 8202 to 8205, put up in sets for retail sale
Tools, interchangeable: rock drilling or earth-boring tools, whether or not power-operated, with working part of sintered metal carbide or cermets
Tools, interchangeable: rock drilling or earth-boring tools, with working part of materials other than sintered metal carbide or cermets, for machine or hand tools, whether or not power-operated
Tools, interchangeable: (for machine or hand tools, whether or not power-operated), dies for drawing or extruding metal
Tools, interchangeable: (for machine or hand tools, whether or not power-operated), tools for pressing, stamping or punching
Tools, interchangeable: (for machine or hand tools, whether or not power-operated), tools for tapping or threading
Tools, interchangeable: (for machine or hand tools, whether or not power-operated), tools for drilling (other than rock)
Tools, interchangeable: (for machine or hand tools, whether or not power-operated), for boring or broaching
Tools, interchangeable: (for machine or hand tools, whether or not power-operated), for milling
Tools, interchangeable: (for machine or hand tools, whether or not power-operated), for turning
Tools, interchangeable: (for machine or hand tools, whether or not power-operated), for screw-driving or uses n.e.s. in heading no. 8207
Tools: knives and cutting blades, for machines or for mechanical appliances, for metal working
Tools: knives and cutting blades, for wood working machines or mechanical appliances
Tools: knives and cutting blades, for kitchen appliances or for machines used by the food industry
Tools: knives and cutting blades, for agricultural, horticultural or forestry machines or mechanical appliances
Tools: knives and cutting blades, for machines or mechanical appliances, n.e.s. in heading no. 8208
Knives: with cutting blades, serrated or not (including pruning knives), sets of assorted articles, excluding knives and blades of heading no. 8208
Knives: table knives, having fixed cutting blades, serrated or not, excluding knives and blades of heading no. 8208
Knives: having fixed cutting blades, (other than table knives), serrated or not, excluding knives and blades of heading no. 8208
Knives: with cutting blades, (having other than fixed blades), serrated or not, excluding knives and blades of heading no. 8208
Blades: cutting, serrated or not, excluding those of heading no. 8208
Razors
Razors: safety razor blades, including razor blade blanks in strips
Razors: parts n.e.s. in heading no. 8212
Scissors: tailors' shears, similar shears and blades therefor
Cutlery: paper knives, letter openers, erasing knives, pencil sharpeners and blades therefor
Manicure or pedicure sets and instruments: (including nail files)
Cutlery: hair clippers and mincing knives
Cutlery: sets of assorted articles (eg spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives, butter-knives, sugar tongs and similar), with at least one article plated with precious metal
Cutlery: sets of assorted articles (eg spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives, butter knives, sugar tongs and similar), not plated with precious metal
Cutlery: (eg spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives, butter-knives, sugar tongs and similar), plated with precious metal, not in sets
Cutlery: other than plated with precious metal
Boilers: watertube boilers with a steam production exceeding 45t per hour
Boilers: watertube boilers with a steam production not exceeding 45t per hour
Boilers: vapour generating boilers, including hybrid boilers n.e.s. in heading no. 8402
Boilers: super-heated water boilers
Boilers: parts of steam or other vapour generating boilers
Converters: of a type used in metallurgy or in metal foundries
Ingot moulds and ladles: of a kind used in metallurgy or in metal foundries
Casting machines: of a kind used in metallurgy or in metal foundries
Machines: parts of converters, ladles, ingot moulds and casting machines, of a kind used in metallurgy or in metal foundries
Machining centres: for working metal
Machines: unit construction machines (single station), for working metal
Metal machines: multi-station transfer machines, for working metal
Lathes: for removing metal, horizontal, numerically controlled
Lathes: for removing metal, horizontal, other than numerically controlled
Lathes: for removing metal, numerically controlled, other than horizontal lathes
Lathes: for removing metal, other than horizontal or numerically controlled lathes
Machine-tools: way-type unit head machines, for drilling, boring, milling, threading or tapping by removing metal, other than lathes of heading no. 8458
Machine-tools: for drilling by removing metal, numerically controlled
Machine-tools: for drilling by removing metal, other than numerically controlled
Machine-tools: for boring-milling by removing metal, numerically controlled
Machine-tools: for boring-milling by removing metal, other than numerically controlled
Machine-tools: for boring by removing metal, n.e.s. in item no. 8459.31 and 8459.39
Machine-tools: for milling by removing metal, knee-type, numerically controlled
Machine-tools: for milling by removing metal, knee-type, other than numerically controlled
Machine-tools: for milling by removing metal, (not knee-type), numerically controlled
Machine-tools: for milling by removing metal, not knee-type, other than numerically controlled
Machine-tools: for threading or tapping by removing metal
Machine-tools: flat-surface grinding machines, in which positioning in any one axis can be set up to an accuracy of 0.01mm or better, numerically controlled
Machine-tools: flat-surface grinding machines, in which positioning in any one axis can be set up to an accuracy of 0.01mm or better, other than numerically controlled
Machine-tools: grinding machines (other than flat-surface), in which positioning in any one axis can be set up to at least an accuracy of 0.01mm, numerically controlled
Machine-tools: grinding machines (other than flat-surface), in which positioning in any one axis can be set up to at least an accuracy of 0.01mm, other than numerically controlled
Machine-tools: sharpening (tool or cutter grinding) machines, numerically controlled
Machine-tools: sharpening (tool or cutter grinding) machines, other than numerically controlled
Machine-tools: for honing or lapping
Machine-tools: for deburring, polishing or otherwise finishing metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets by means of grinding stones, abrasives or polishing products, n.e.s. in heading no. 8460
Machine-tools: planing machines, working by removing metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets
Machine-tools: shaping or slotting machines, working by removing metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets
Machine-tools: broaching machines, working by removing metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets
Machine-tools: gear cutting, gear grinding or gear finishing machines, working by removing metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets
Machine-tools: sawing or cutting-off machines, working by removing metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets
Machine-tools: working by removing metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets, n.e.s. in heading no. 8461
Machine-tools: forging or die-stamping machines (including presses) and hammers, for working metal
Machine-tools: bending, folding, straightening or flattening machines (including presses), numerically controlled, for working metal
Machine-tools: bending, folding, straightening or flattening machines (including presses), (other than numerically controlled), for working metal
Machine-tools: shearing machines (including presses), (other than combined punching and shearing machines), numerically controlled, for working metal
Machine-tools: shearing machines (including presses), (other than combined punching and shearing machines, other than numerically controlled), for working metal
Machine-tools: punching or notching machines (including presses), including combined punching and shearing machines, numerically controlled, for working metal
Machine-tools: punching or notching machines (including presses), including combined punching and shearing machines, (not numerically controlled), for working metal
Machine-tools: presses for working metal or metal carbides, n.e.s. in heading no. 8462, hydraulic presses
Machine-tools: presses for working metal or metal carbides, n.e.s. in heading no. 8462, other than hydraulic presses
Machine-tools: for working metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets, without removing material, draw-benches for bars, tubes, profiles, wire or the like
Machine-tools: for working metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets, without removing material, thread rolling machines
Machine-tools: machines for working wire, without removing material
Machine-tools: for working metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets, without removing material, n.e.s. in heading no. 8463
Moulding boxes: for metal foundry

Cifras clave

Aspecto	Cifras	Mensaje
Empresas activas	359 en estructuras metálicas y 454 en tratamiento de metales, padrón con corte en 2024	El mayor núcleo registral está en fabricación estructural y servicios de trabajo sobre metales.
Distribución de empresas	En 2024, estructuras: Santa Cruz 118, La Paz 99 y Cochabamba 89. Tratamiento: Santa Cruz 148, Cochabamba 100 y La Paz 99	Existen empresas en varios centros manufactureros.
Exportación de tornillos y pernos	USD 554 mil y 56,6 toneladas en 2024, frente a USD 211 mil y 35,7 toneladas en 2019	Las exportaciones aumentaron en valor y cantidad observada, con 37 destinos en 2024.
Exportación de tanques de acero	USD 397 mil y 119,9 toneladas en 2024, frente a USD 227 mil y 64,7 toneladas en 2019	Las ventas crecieron, pero Argentina recibió el 92 % del valor exportado en 2024.
Importaciones de los mismos productos	Tornillos y pernos: USD 7,8 millones. Tanques de acero: USD 5,1 millones en 2024	Estos rubros también se abastecen mediante compras externas de mayor valor que las exportaciones.

Condiciones de desarrollo

Mercado

Las ventas externas ofrecen referencias comerciales para productos concretos de la manufactura metálica. En 2024, los tornillos y pernos de hierro o acero llegaron a 37 destinos. El principal, Omán, recibió cerca del 31 % del valor exportado. En cambio, Argentina concentró cerca del 92 % de los tanques y depósitos de acero de más de 300 litros. La primera partida muestra una red más extendida, mientras que la segunda depende de un mercado principal.

La continuidad comercial cambia esa comparación. Omán tuvo compras de tornillos bolivianos superiores a USD 10 mil en un solo año de los cinco años de 2020 a 2024. Paraguay y Brasil las tuvieron durante tres, y Estados Unidos durante cinco. Argentina superó ese monto en dos años para tanques de acero. Los destinos recientes de mayor valor no tienen necesariamente las relaciones de compra más continuas.

Las importaciones superaron a las exportaciones en ambos rubros, así como en otros bienes consultados, entre ellos estructuras metálicas y recipientes de aluminio. Estas compras identifican productos con presencia de proveedores extranjeros en el mercado boliviano. Tornillos y tanques tienen una escala importadora importante frente a sus ventas externas.

Base productiva

El registro de empresas activas con corte en 2024 muestra 359 fabricantes de productos metálicos para estructuras y 454 empresas de tratamiento de metales, que incluye torneado, soldadura, revestimiento, pulido y herrería. Estas actividades están presentes principalmente en Santa Cruz, Cochabamba y La Paz. También hay 36 fabricantes de tanques, calderas y recipientes metálicos y 107 empresas de forja, prensado, estampado y laminado.

Se registraron menos fabricantes de estructuras por primera vez: de 450 entre 2015 y 2019 a 196 entre 2020 y 2024. En tratamiento de metales pasaron de 564 a 179. Los balances validados de 2021 muestran ganancias en 49 de los 108 fabricantes de estructuras observados y en 62 de las 121 empresas de tratamiento de metales.

Aprendizaje y expansión

La encuesta empresarial de 2025 entrevistó nueve establecimientos de fabricación de productos metálicos. Seis reportaron mejoras de procesos, cuatro capacitación y cinco inversión en activos fijos.

La expansión comercial tiene otra referencia: aumentaron tanto el valor como las toneladas exportadas de tornillos y tanques entre 2019 y 2024. Esa trayectoria coexiste con menos empresas registradas por primera vez en estructuras y tratamiento de metales.

Situación estratégica

Fortalezas y Oportunidades

Ampliar ventas desde un mercado continuo. Estados Unidos compró tornillos y pernos bolivianos durante los cinco años de 2020 a 2024. Las ventas pasaron de USD 13 mil en 2019 a USD 55 mil en 2024, mientras las importaciones estadounidenses del producto crecían. Esta experiencia concreta puede estudiarse con fabricantes y comercializadores para desarrollar pedidos repetidos.

Debilidades y Amenazas

Los mayores destinos recientes no aseguran continuidad. Omán compró USD 171 mil de tornillos y pernos en 2024, pero sólo ese año superó USD 10 mil en el período de 2020 a 2024. Argentina recibió casi todos los tanques de acero exportados y sus compras importantes fueron intermitentes. Antes de ampliar producción para esos mercados, conviene comprobar la repetición de ventas y sus condiciones comerciales.