São Paulo – Brazilian mechanical capital goods exports reached US$ 1.335 billion last December, an increase by 30% in relation to the previous month and by 38% in relation to December 2012, according to information released this Wednesday (29) by the Brazilian Machinery and Equipment Industries Association (Abimaq).
According to the entity, the result was surprising, leading to an increase to 35% in the exports share of the sector’s revenue, a result above the historic average.
In the year’s accumulated total, however, shipments added up to US$ 12.475 billion, a 7% decline in relation to 2012. The main markets were other countries in Latin America, United States and Europe.
Imports, in turn, reached US$ 2.712 billion in December, an increase by 2% in relation to November, and by 9.3% in relation to December 2012. Brazil’s main suppliers are the United States, China, Germany and Italy.
Throughout 2013, imports added up to US$ 32.617 billion, an increase by 7% in relation to 2012. The sector’s trade balance registered a record breaking US$ 20.143 billion deficit, 18% higher than in 2012.
Revenues
Revenues of the Brazilian machinery and equipments sector in December 2013 totaled R$ 5.555 billion (US$ 2.28 billion, in current exchange rates), representing a decrease by 9.5% in relation to November, and by 11.6% in comparison to December 2012.
During the year, the sector’s gross revenue reached R$ 79.079 billion (US$ 32.49 billion), a 5.7% decrease in relation to 2012.
According to Abimaq, sales improved during the first semester of 2013, after which came a period of stability followed by “strong decline” at the end of the year.
*Translated by Silvia Lindsey
