São Paulo – The capital goods sector had revenues of 45 billion Brazilian reals (US$ 28 billion) from January to July, growth of 10.3% as against the same period last year, according to information disclosed on Wednesday (31) by the Brazilian Machinery Manufacturers Association (Abimaq). The value, however, was 2.6% lower than that registered in the first seven months of 2008, before the international financial crisis.
The performance was boosted by the agricultural, hydraulic and pneumatic and pump sectors. On the other hand, revenues dropped in the areas of textile machinery, valves and machinery for plastic, according to Abimaq.
Sector exports generated US$ 6.3 billion from January to July, growth of 29.5% over the same period in 2010. Imports, in turn, totalled US$ 16.5 billion, growth of 28.1% in the same comparison. This resulted in a US$ 10.2 billion trade deficit for Brazil, 27.3% greater than in the same seven months last year.
The main capital goods markets for Brazilian machinery in the period were Latin America, the United States and Europe. The main Brazilian suppliers were the United States, Germany and China, always according to Abimaq.
The number of sector workers reached 262,212 in July, 6.4% more than in the same month in 2010. The use of sector installed capacity, however, dropped from 83.55% to 82.54% in the same comparison.
*Translated by Mark Ament
