São Paulo – Loans made by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES, in the Portuguese acronym) reached 34.2 billion reals (US$ 16.5 billion) from January to April, up 1% compared with the same period of last year, according to figures issued by the bank this Thursday (14th). In April, loans reached 9.7 billion reals (US$ 4.7 billion), up 10% as against April 2011.
From January to April, infrastructure projects, especially roads and electric power, accounted for the majority of loans, at 39%, followed by industry with 28%, trade and services, and agriculture. The industrial sector highlights were pulp and paper according to the bank. Micro, small and medium enterprises accounted 41% of disbursements.
Regarding consultations – a measure of future investment, according to the institution –, there was a 37% increase in the first four months of the year, up to 73.8 billion reals (US$ 35.6 billion). In April, consultations were up 36%.
The increase in consultations in the first four months was driven by industry, up 71%, the highlight being oil and gas. Infrastructure industry consultations increased by 22% and those placed by agriculture, trade and services businesses were up 17%.
The bank is expecting total disbursements for infrastructure to reach 60 billion reals (US$ 29 billion) this year. Overall loans are expected to reach 150 billion reals (US$ 72.5 billion), as against 139 billion reals (US$ 67.2 billion) last year.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
