Rio de Janeiro – Exports of the state of Rio de Janeiro grew 48% in 2010 as against the previous year, reaching a record US$ 20 billion. The result exceeded the 32% high last year, as against 2009, according to the Rio Exporta bulletin, disclosed on Thursday (3) by the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan).
With this, the state of Rio has recovered the third position in the Brazilian exporter ranking, lost to Rio Grande do Sul in 2009, and has a 9.9% share of the total exported by the country. The main exporters are still São Paulo and Minas Gerais.
"We contributed with over 16% of the Brazilian trade balance due to the growth of exports from Rio de Janeiro, which was greater than the average for the rest of Brazil," said the Economic Studies manager at Firjan, Guilherme Mercês.
According to the economist, the growth in exports was expected due to the performance throughout the year. Contributing to the fact was the inauguration of the Atlantic Ironworks Company (CSA), whose production is fully turned to the foreign market. "This benefited the state of Rio de Janeiro in terms of exports of manufactured products and should continue. We may therefore expect the ironworks industry to present export records in coming years," said Mercês.
The bulletin shows that 16 of the 23 sectors researched show greater sales abroad, led by the oil industry. Exports of the mining sector rose 64.9%, to US$ 14.9 billion. The second highest increase in exports was identified in the auto industry (59%).
Mercês believes that 2011 will be even better than 2010. "We expect an even better performance in 2011, mainly due to the inauguration of new oil platforms this year. Therefore, in 2011, perspectives are more favourable than in 2010," he guaranteed. Oil exploration in the pre-salt layer should play a decisive part in exports, he said.
*Translated by Mark Ament
