São Paulo – The packaging sector plans to obtain revenues of R$ 46 billion this year (US$ 26.8 billion) and reach a record 230,000 employees by December. The forecasted growth, if it becomes concrete, represents 1.6% more than in 2011, a year in which the sector grew 1.5% in comparison with the previous year, according to the Macroeconomic Packaging Study elaborated by Getúlio Vargas Foundation for the Brazilian Packaging Association (Abre), disclosed on Friday (2).
In 2011, the sector had revenues of R$ 43.7 billion (US$ 25.4 billion) and employed 226,000 people, a record. However, late last year, the packaging industry lost strength and ended 2011 with 223,335 people hired.
Retraction was also registered in sector revenues, which, according to a study, grew 3.11% in the first quarter of 2011 as against the same period in 2010. In the second half, however, production dropped 0.07% in comparison with the second half of 2011. The growth between 2009 and 2011 was 2.61%, with reduction of 3.89% in 2009, growth of 10.23% in 2010 and 1.5% in 2011.
The package production volume was R$ 42.1 billion in 2011. Of this total, plastic materials answered to 38%, followed by corrugated cardboard (17.69%) and cardboard, paper and mill board (10.27% of production).
*Translated by Mark Ament
