São Paulo – Electrical and electronics industry revenues grew by 11% in the first half of this year compared with the same period of last year. The figures were disclosed this Thursday (8) by the Association of the Brazilian Electric and Electronic Industry (Abinee).
Telecommunications was the area that grew the most in the first half of this year as against the same period of 2010, at 21%, followed by industrial equipment, at 18%, industrial automation, at 15%, and computers, at 12%.
According to the association, growth in the telecommunications and computers segments was mostly a function of increased consumption. Sales of personal computers increased by 17% in the first half of this year compared with 2010, whereas mobile sales grew by roughly 25% using the same basis of comparison.
Another factor that contributed to the increased electrical and electronics industry revenues, according to the association, were investment in electric power infrastructure and telecom.
According to the Abinee, the share of exports in the industry’s business continues to decrease. Exports of electrical and electronics products increased by 2% in the first half of the year, from US$ 3.6 billion to US$ 3.7 billion.
Imports increased by 20% using the same basis of comparison, from US$ 16.2 billion to US$ 19.4 billion. One of the segments in which foreign purchases grew the most is mobile telephones, whose imports reached US$ 490 million during the period, 111% more than in the first half of 2010.
The number of employees in the segment went from 174,700, in December 2010, to 179,400 in June this year.
Despite the rise, the association judged that the result was below expectations. According to the Abinee, business could have been better for the industry if the real (Brazilian currency) were not as appreciated against the US dollar.
According to the association, “despite the increased investment in production and the conditions which favour consumption (low unemployment rates and an increase in the total wages paid), the electrical and electronics industry was unable to take full advantage of this scenario due to the reduced competitiveness that results from appreciation of the Brazilian real against the dollar.”
This year, the Abinee expects to post 134.9 billion reals (US$ 81.4 billion) in revenues, a figure 8% higher than last year’s.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
