Industry speeds rhythm of production in 2008
Valor Econômico - 03/06/2008
The Brazilian industry started 2008 at a faster production pace than the end of last year's. The physical production of the plants went 8.5% up in January, compared to the same period of the previous year, surpassing the average of 7.9% of 2007's last quarter, according to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), released yesterday. In the comparison with the month of December, the growth was 1.8%, after deducting the seasonal effects, and in the accumulated of 12 months, it was 6.3%. All categories of use registered some acceleration in January in relation to the end of last year, except capital goods. Intermediate goods and consumer durable goods increased 8% and 15.7% in relation to the beginning of 2007, respectively, reaching record levels. Semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods had an increase of 5.5%, whereas capital goods increased their production by 14.7%, below the 19.9% rate from December. Among the researched items, the main positive one between December and January was the sector of automotive vehicles, with an increase of 9%, after a 7.5% fall in the last month of 2007. The sector gave the greatest contribution for the 1.8% increase of the general industry. In total, 88% of the products researched by IBGE in this sector had production increases. Next, the second greatest contribution came from the sector of other chemical products, with growth of 14.6% and index of dissemination of 58%, thanks to the greater production of herbicides, insecticides, paints, and varnishes. On the other hand, the greatest fall was in the sector of office machines and computer machines, with a retreat of 10.9% and reduction of 80% in the production of the researched products.