The industrial production in August grew 1.3% compared to July, without seasonal influences. The result was influenced by the growth in the production in 17 among 27 surveyed industrial segments by the IBGE, especially for ...

The industrial production in August grew 1.3% compared to July, without seasonal influences. The result was influenced by the growth in the production in 17 among 27 surveyed industrial segments by the IBGE, especially the sectors of food products (3.7%), automotive vehicles (3.3%), machines and equipment (3.7%) and electronic material and communication equipment (6.7%).  In relation to the same month of the previous year, the increase was 6.6%, registering the fourteenth consecutive positive result.  The indicator accumulated January-August increased by 5.3%, in relation to the same period of the previous year, and the indicator accumulated in the last twelve months maintained an ascending trend from July (4.2%) to August (4.5%).

After a negative change of 0.4% in the previous month, the increase of 1.3% observed in the total of the industry, from July to August, caused the production of the sector to reach a record level.  Among the twenty-seven segments, seventeen grew between July and August, especially the sector of food products (3.7%), which compensated the loss accumulated in the two previous months (- 3.7%).  Also it is worth mentioning the increases in automotive vehicles (3.3%), machines and equipment (3.7%) and electronic material and communication equipment (6.7%).  On the other hand, the main negative result was observed in the sector of edition and printing, with decrease of 4.1% after two months of growth, period in which it accumulated gain of 6.9%.  The pharmaceutical industry also registered decrease of 1.9%.

Still in the comparison with the previous month, capital goods (4.0%) and durable consumer goods (2.7%) reached the most elevated rates among the categories of use.  With this result, the sector of capital goods changed the decrease of 1.1% registered in the previous month and durable consumer goods continued growing for the fourth consecutive month, accumulating in this period gain of 8.3%.  With increases below the national average (1.3%), intermediate goods (0.9%) and semi and non-durable consumer goods (0.7%) once again showed increase.

Capital goods sector increased above the national average

In the comparison August 2007/ August 2006, Industry increased by 6.6%, with the majority (22) of the twenty-seven surveyed segments having increase in the production.  The index resulted, mainly, from the contributions of automotive vehicles (17.5%); machines and equipment (18.2%); other equipment and transportation (24.5%) and other chemical products (5.8%).  The items which stood out in the performance of these activities were, respectively: automobiles and parts; microwave ovens and harvesting machines; airplanes and motorcycles; and herbicides and insecticides.  The main negative influence came from tobacco (-28.6%), influenced by the decrease in the production of manufactured tobacco.

Still in the comparison with August 2006, the indexes by categories of use confirm the leadership of capital goods (21.0%), with a rhythm above the industrial average (6.6%).  This performance was supported by capital goods for transportation (26.2%), for mixed use (8.3%) and for industrial use (6.5%).  In the production of agricultural goods (100.8%), the atypical rate is associated to the recovery of the agricultural sector in 2007 and to the reduced base of comparison.   The category of durable consumer goods (13.0%) was influenced basically by the increase in the production of automobiles (11.0%), mobile telephones (20.6%), household equipment (12.7%) and motorcycles (22.6%), due to a significant domestic demand, which shows the maintenance of favorable credit conditions and the increase of overall wages.

The production of intermediate goods (4.2%) increases in a rhythm slower than the average of the industry.   The main highlight was elaborated industrial inputs (3.3%), influenced by the items herbicides for use in agriculture and steel slugs, blocks and ingots.  The group inputs for construction (4.4%) registered the eighth consecutive positive result.  On the other hand, the only negative result was verified in the sub-sector of food products and elaborated beverages (-1.1%), mainly due to the decrease in the manufacturing of crystallized sugar.  In the category of semi and non-durable consumer goods (4.2%), with positive rates since the beginning of the year, the highlight was the sub-sector of food products and elaborated beverages for domestic use (4.7%), mainly due to the major production of soft drinks and beers and draft beers.

Manufacturing of machines and equipment maintains leadership in the indicator accumulated

In the indicator accumulated January- August compared to the similar period of 2006, the growth of 5.3% shows the increase in the production of twenty activities.  The manufacturing of machines and equipment (17.5%) maintains the leadership in terms of influence on the overall index.  Other relevant positive contributions came from automotive vehicles (11.3%), other chemical products (6.3%), basic metallurgy (7.1%) and mining and quarrying (6.0%). On the other hand, among the seven activities with decrease, stood out the segment of electronic material and communication equipment (-5.4%).  By categories of use, the profile of growth during 2007 confirms the major dynamism of capital goods (17.6%), followed by durable consumer goods (6.9%), both with a rhythm above the overall average (5.3%).  The production of intermediate goods (4.2%) and semi and non-durable consumer goods (3.2%) show more moderate performances.

In summary, the increase of 1.3% in the industrial production in last August compared to the previous month, leads the quarterly moving average indicator to maintain the trend of growth, presenting 0.7% of increment in August compared to July, same rhythm of the previous month.  According to this same comparison, all the categories of use continue in ascending trends, with the sector of durable consumer goods (2.1%) registering the major increase among the categories of use and accelerating compared to the increment registered in the previous month (1.8%).  The category capital goods also increased above the national average (1.3%), while intermediate goods (0.5%) and semi and non-durable consumer goods (0.1%) increased below the average.