São Paulo –Brazil exported 48,700 vehicles in April this year, growth of 50.7% over the same month in 2010, when foreign sales reached 32,300 units. There was growth of 13.9% in comparison with March 2011, when exports totalled 42,700 units. In the accumulated result for the year, the growth was 9.1%, with exports of 168,200 vehicles from January to April, against 154,200 units in the first quarter of 2010. The figures were disclosed on Friday (6), in São Paulo, by National Association of Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea) president Cledorvino Belini.
“Exports rose, but not as much as they should have, if compared with 2005, a year in which we exported well,” said Belini. The Anfavea attributed the growth in the quarter to imports by countries in South America, like Peru, Colombia and Argentina. “The United States is recovering and, with that, is pulling other markets. South Africa is also turning to Brazil,” he said. The figures of the export units include light vehicles, lorries and buses.
Other figures pointed out by Belini were vehicle imports by Brazil. From January to April this year, the country imported 245,900 units, resulting in a deficit of 77,700 units. “We have a deficit of almost double the vehicle imports,” he pointed out. According to him, if the exchange rate between the dollar and the Brazilian real continues at around 1.50 reals per dollar, the tendency is for imports to grow further. “Today, Brazil is living a moment of high employment rates, but in future we may need these jobs, and they are being generated elsewhere,” he said.
In values, vehicle exports in April generated US$ 1.32 billion, growth of 42.1% over April 2010 and 12.8% over March this year. In the comparison between the quarters, the first months of this year presented growth of 30.3%. Sales rose from US$ 3.53 billion last year, to US$ 4.6 billion this year. These values do not include exports of completely knocked down vehicles.
Regarding the production of vehicles, there was reduction from 294,500 units in March this year to 280,100 units in April, showing reduction of 4.9%. Still in comparison with April 2010, when production was 274,800 units, there was growth of 1.9%. In the accumulated result for the year, there was growth of 4.1%, with production from January to April this year having totalled 1.11 million vehicles, against 1.06 million in the same period last year.
In the press conference, Belini paid special attention to the new vehicle licensing figures, which presented growth of just 3.8% in comparison between January and April 2011 and the first quarter of 2010, rising from 1.01 million units to 1.05 million units. “It is an accentuated reduction in the level of growth,” said the Anfavea president.
When asked about the federal government measures to contain consumption and product price increases, Belini stated: “The Central Bank is concerned with inflation, but we understand that our sector is also important. We represent 23% of the Brazilian industrial GDP and, if we stop producing, this will also affect the country.” He also demonstrated concern with the rhythm of growth of the automotive sector. “The sector is growing above 5%. We understand that, if we grow 5% this year, it will already be a significant reduction when compared to last year, when we grew 12%.” The press conference also included Anfavea directors Aurélio Santana, Ademar Cantero and Milton Rego.
*Translated by Mark Ament
