São Paulo – Brazilian exports of machinery and equipment amounted to US$ 3.2 billion in Q1, an increase of 27.8% over Q1 last year. The data was released this Wednesday (7th) by the Brazilian Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association (Abimaq). According to the organization, the growth posted is considered “strong”, and the total reached is a record for the period. The value represents 46.5% of the industry revenue, way above the historical average, which is 32%.
The association stresses that almost all segments of this industry expanded their foreign sales from January to March. The main destinations were Latin America, United States and Europe. Abimaq observed that in spite of a decrease of 4.4% in shipments to Latin-American countries, the exports increased significantly to the European continent (31.6%) and “mainly” to the USA (72.7%).
In March alone, foreign sales amounted to a little more than US$ 1 billion. There was an increase of 5.9% in relation the same month in 2013, but a reduction of 3.5% in comparison to February 2014. Most segments of the industry showed tendencies to reduce the pace of shipments last month, according to Abimaq.
On the other hand, imports amounted to US$ 7.544 billion in Q1, down 3.3% over the same period last year. In March, international purchases amounted to US$ 2.34 billion, a decrease of 10.2% in comparison to the same month in 2013, but there was an increase of 6% in relation to February 2014.
Abimaq believes the decrease in imports in Q1 shows “the slowing down of investment in production”. According to the organization, only the imports of machinery for the oil and renewable energy areas showed an increase in the period.
Brazil’s largest suppliers in the beginning of this year were the United States in the first position, which replaced China, now in second, followed by Germany and Italy.
The revenue of the sector was around US$7.27 billion (or R$ 16.32 billion) in Q1 2014, a decrease of 9.5% over Q1 2013.
*Translated by Rodrigo Mendonça
