São Paulo – The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) granted R$ 43.8 billion (US$ 21.6 billion) in loans from January to May this year, growth of 1% over the same period last year. In May alone, disbursements totalled R$ 9.7 billion, practically the same as in the same month in 2011.
The infrastructure area lead in disbursements in the first five months of the year, with 39% of the total, boosted mainly by the sectors of electric energy, telecommunications and railway transport. Then came industry.
According to the BNDES, inquiries regarding financing from January to May reached R$ 92.5 billion, which shows, according to the bank, that investment should increase in coming months. The growth in inquiries was 27% over the same months in 2011. Growth was identified in all sectors.
*Translated by Mark Ament
