Sales of Gamarra Commerce Emporium, Lima's largest textile outlet, totaled S/6.618 billion (about US$2.04 billion) in 2016, National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) data revealed on Thursday.
According to an INEI study on Gamarra's socio-economic features, this complex in Lima's La Victoria district comprises 31,987 businesses, 30,204 (94.4%) of which are micro enterprises.
These, the study said, contributed S/1.557 billion (about US$478.78 million) of sales in 2016, making up 23.5% of the total.
Gamarra's 1,642 small enterprises (5.1% of business units) sold S/2.473 billion (about US$760.46 million) or 37.4% of the total in the analyzed period.
Likewise, the 141 medium and large business units (0.5%) posted S/2.589 billion (about US$796.13 million) worth of sales, making up 39.1% of Gamarra's sales in 2016.
"Gamarra's peak seasons are Fiestas Patrias [Peruvian Independence Day, July 28th], as well as
December's Christmas and New Year's holidays campaigns," said Gamarra Business Association secretary Susana Saldaña.
Economic activity
INEI's report also revealed 40.9% (13,073) of Gamarra's enterprises are retail outlets, whose sales amounted to S/1.058 billion (about US$325.34 million) in 2016.
Wholesale businesses account for 22.8% of the total and sold S/3.103 billion (about US$954.18 million), whereas manufacturing industries represented 20.5% and sold S/1.322 billion (about US$406.52 million) last year.
(END) DOP/CNA/DHT/MVB