Chemical sector resumes expansion in the country
Valor Econômico 09/17/10
The Brazilian chemical industry is experiencing a positive phase, after the threat the crisis presented its performance. According to information of the consulting firm Consultoria Lafis, only on the segment of chemicals for industrial use, the level of production featured an increase of 44% in the accumulated in 2009, whereas the domestic sales advanced 46.7%, compared to data of December 2008. Between January and May this year, on its turn, the level of production already registered an increase of 13.1% and the sales increased 10.9%. "The crisis was bad, but not catastrophic. The perspectives are good now", said the sector analyst of Lafis, Osmar Sanches. The boom of the area in the country has followed, mainly, the production of the car industry, great consumer of chemicals and that, in accordance with the National Association of Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea), should grow more than 8% this year."The chemical industry has reacted with the tax incentives offered by the government", added the Coordinator of the Committee for Rubber of the Brazilian Chemical Industry Association (Abiquim), Clovis Ragno. For Lafis, there has already been a significant resumption in the sector, which should not registered, in 2010, anything close to the fall seen in 2009, of 21.1% (to US$ 48.3 billion) in the net earnings. Especially for the segment of synthetic rubber, the area of pneumatics and the pre-salt layer should represent good opportunities. "The oil sector should demand many rubber products and it will offer good perspectives", says Ragno.
On the other hand, the coordinator of the Abiquim stresses out that the cost of the raw-materials, mainly those from the oil - whose prices should reach US$ 78 until the end of the year, according to Lafis - represents one of the main obstacles for the sector. The difficulties to export, because of the exchange rate, and the very economic deceleration also seen in the foreign markets may also threaten the good perspectives. "The increase in the value of the Real favors the imports and the insistence of the Asian companies", he concluded.