Demand for machinery and equipment increases 17%
Gazeta Mercantil 10/26/2007
The nominal sales of the Brazilian industry of machinery and equipment amounted to R$ 5.6 billion (US$ 3.1 billion) in September, an amount 17% superior to that reached in the same month of the previous year, reflecting the better performance of the global economy. In Brazil, among the segments that have pulled the demand are the segments of equipment for the sectors of wood, industrial valves, and agricultural machines and implements, according to the data from the Brazilian Machinery Manufacturers Association (Abimaq). The export of an oil rig to the Netherlands increased the external sales by 91.8%, reaching R$ 1.41 billion (US$ 771.8 million) in September. In the amount accrued in nine months, the nominal sales of the sector achieved R$ 45.5 billion (US$ 24.9 billion), an increase of 12.6% in comparison with the same period of 2006. The apparent consumption (which takes into account the total sales in the domestic market, including imports) totalled R$ 51.9 billion (US$ 28.4 billion) in the period, 15.9% superior to the same period of 2006. Importation increased by 46.1% in the month of September and reached US$ 1.39 billion (US$ 760.8 million). This year, R$ 11.07 billion (US$ 6.1 billion) have already been imported in machinery and equipment, which represents a growth of 35.7%. Machines for the production of plastics and textiles are among the most imported ones. The foreign sales, on their turn, amounted to US$ 7.85 billion in nine months, a total 27.5% superior to that registered during the same period of last year. The United States, Argentina, and the Netherlands were the main destinations of the exportations. The average level of use of the installed capacity this year is in 84.3%, before the 80.1% in 2006. In some cases, such as heavy machinery, this level reached 92%.