São Paulo – Brazilian vehicle exports should grow 49.4% in revenues this year, according to forecasts disclosed on Thursday (5) by the National Association of Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea). Foreign sales by carmakers should reach US$ 12.4 billion in 2010, against US$ 8.3 billion last year. The volume should grow 30.5%, to 620,000 units, against 475,000 in 2009. Anfavea has expanded its estimated vehicle sales by 90,000 units, in comparison with its forecast in early July, when the estimate had been 530,000 vehicles.
According to Anfavea president Cledorvino Belini, the greater estimate is based on figures supplied by carmakers and, though not large, reflects expansion of some markets, mainly in Latin America. “The Argentine market is boosting it, the Chilean one too. I hope it continues like that,” said the executive. He recalls, however, that the sector is just recovering the exports it lost. In 2005, for example, the carmakers installed in Brazil exported 900,000 vehicles.
In July, Brazilian auto exports – cars, light commercial vehicles, lorries and buses – totalled 64,800 units. The volume almost doubled as against last year, when shipments to the foreign market totalled 35,900 vehicles. The growth was 80.5%. Over June this year, there was also growth, but just 2%. In the accumulated result for the year, from January to July, sales totalled 422,200 units, as against 236,600 units in the same months in 2009, with growth of 78.4%. “Exports are growing, but that is due to the retraction last year,” said Belini. In July 2008 shipments totalled 63,400 vehicles.
The Brazilian vehicle market is still heated. In July, 302,300 new vehicles were licensed, growth of 5.9% over July 2009 and 15.1% over June. In the accumulated result for the year up to July, licensing has already totalled 1.882 million units, against 1.735 million units in the first seven months of last year. According to the Anfavea, among the reasons is the volume of credit on the Brazilian market, 13.4% greater this year than last year, 0.1 percentage point less, and lower default.
In July, carmakers produced 315,900 vehicles in Brazil, growth of 12% over July last year and 3.2% over June this year. Between January and July, production has totalled 2.074 million units, with growth of 18.3% over the same period in 2009.
*Translated by Mark Ament
