Sales grow 10.9% in the first two months, says Abimaq
Valor Econômico
The Brazilian industry of machinery and equipment closed February with sales of R$ 5.811 billion (US$ 3.42 billion), showing an increase of 11.8% compared to the same month of 2010. Compared to January, there was an increase of 12%, according to a survey released by the Brazilian Machinery Manufacturers Association (Abimaq). As a result, according to the entity, the sector of machines accumulated sales of R$ 11 billion (US$ 6.5 billion) in the first two months, representing growth of 10.9% compared to the same period of 2010.
The Brazilian exports of machines and equipment amounted to US$ 895 million in February, an increase of 57.8% compared to the same period last year. On the same basis of comparison, the imports of mechanical capital goods increased 32% to US$ 2.04 billion. The survey of the Abimaq also shows the level of use of the installed capacity in the sector stayed in 80.6% last month, below the 81.2% registered in January. As regards employment in the sector it increased 0.7% from January to February, getting to 253.4 thousand people employed. The Abimaq is projecting a negative balance of US$ 30 billion in the balance of trade of the sector in 2011. Last year, the imports exceeded the exports in US$ 15.73 billion.