São Paulo – Vehicle exports from Brazil were down 31.5% in value year-on-year in September, as per numbers from the National Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association (Anfavea). Foreign sales reached USD 734 million last month, down from USD 1 billion in September 2017. Year-to-date through September, exports came out to USD 9.3 billion, down 2.4% from a year ago.
The numbers include light vehicles (automobiles and light commercial vehicles), trucks and buses. September saw 39,449 vehicles shipped out from Brazil, down 34.5% from a year ago. Year-to-date through September, 524,000 vehicles got shipped, down 8% year-on-year.
Agência Brasil quoted Anfavea as saying during a press conference this Thursday (4) that weaker sales to Argentina were the main cause for the drop in exports. The severe economic crisis in the country caused its share of total vehicle exports from Brazil slide from 70% to 50%. As a result, automakers are seeking new markets.
Agricultural and road construction machinery also dropped in September, by 18.6% year-on-year to USD 256 million. Tractors made up the bulk of sales in this category, which came out to 1,000 units, down 23.6% year-on-year.
September saw 223,000 vehicles made in Brazil, down 6.3% from a year ago. Year-to-date through September, industry output was 2.1 million, up 10.5% year-on-year, including 211,000 light vehicles, 9,115 trucks and 2,250 buses.
Unlike Argentina, Algeria is stepping up its vehicle imports, though not from Brazil.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
