São Paulo – The Brazilian machinery and equipment industry posted revenues of 52.8 billion Brazilian reals (US$ 27.9 billion) from January to August this year, a figure 9.7% higher than in the same period of last year. According to a balance sheet disclosed this Wednesday (5) by the Brazilian Machinery and Equipment Industry Association (Abimaq), sales grew by 9.1% in August compared with the same month of last year, generating revenues of 7.06 billion reals (US$ 3.7 billion). In comparison with July, revenues increased by 3.8%.
Abimaq informs that despite the increased revenues, the industry ran a trade deficit of US$ 12.1 billion during the period, a figure 22.8% higher than in the first eight months of 2010. Imports of mechanic capital goods stood at US$ 19.6 billion thus far in 2011, and exports stood at US$ 7.5 billion.
According to the Abimaq, the number of direct jobs created by the industry in August was 5.9% higher than in the same month of last year, and 0.1% higher than in July this year, at a total of 262,902 registered workers.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
