Brasília – Industrial activity in Brazil grew 1% in July when compared to the previous month, lower growth than was identified from May to June (2.9%). This information was disclosed yesterday (2) by the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics (IBGE).
Among the categories for use, the IBGE pointed out the record growth in capital goods (machinery and equipment), with expansion of 1.2%, followed by intermediary goods (inputs), which grew 1.1%, in July. These are the best results in the historic series, which dates back to January de 2001.
The category of durable goods dropped 5.2%, against growth of 7.7%, in June, whereas semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods remained stable, after two years of expansion.
When compared to July 2007, the growth of industrial production measured by the Monthly Industrial Research was 8.5%. In the accumulated result for the last 12 months, the advance has been 6.8%. The expansion was boosted by production in July, in 17 of the 27 sectors studied by the IBGE.
The highlights were tobacco (12.9%), publishing and printing (5.6%) and other chemical products (4.2%). On the other hand, the sectors that presented the most relevant reductions were electronic material and communications equipment (-7.6%), vehicles (-1.2%) and beverages (-3%).
In comparison with June 2007, the industry grew in 23 of the 27 sectors studied. The vehicle sector leads (17.3% growth), with production of cars and lorries. Then come the machinery and equipment sectors (12.5%) and ironworks (10%).
In the same period, the IBGE shows a reduction in sectors like wood (-13.7%), electronic and telecommunications equipment (-3.2%) and perfumery, soap and cleaning products (-4,8%).
*Translated by Mark Ament
