In September 2007, the industrial production fell 0.5%, in the series seasonally adjusted. In the comparison with September 2006, Industry increased 5.6%, and in the index accumulated in the year, 5.4%.  The annualized rate, indicator accumulated in the last twelve months, changed from 4.5% in August to 4.8% in September.  In the end of the third quarter, industry registered growth of 6.4% compared to the same period of the previous year, and 1.5% in relation to the second quarter of 2007, in the series seasonally adjusted.

In the comparison September/August (-0.5%), only the category of capital goods increased (1.4%). Intermediate goods (-1.0%), semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods (-0.6%) and durable consumer goods (-0.2%) decreased, after accumulating increase of 8.3% between May and August.  The majority (16) of the 27 surveyed groups had decrease in the production.  The main negative result came from the sector of automotive vehicles (-3.1%), breaking a sequence of four positive rates, period in which it accumulated growth of 12.7%.  Other relevant negative contributions came from cellulose and paper (-7.2%), and other chemical products (-3.0%).  Food products (0.8%), edition and printing (1.6%), petroleum refining and alcohol production (1.0%) and electronic material and communication equipment (2.0%) registered expansion in the production.

In relation to September 2006, the industrial production increased 5.6%, a rate below the one of August (6.6%), July (7.0%) and June (6.6%).  21 among 27 surveyed groups had growth, with the most positive contributions coming from automotive vehicles (23.2%); machines and equipment (17.7%); electric machines, equipment and material (17.5%); petroleum refining and alcohol production (6.6%) and other transportation equipment (28.8%).  By categories of use, capital goods (21.9%) and durable consumer goods (13.2%) registered two-digit rate growth, while intermediate goods (3.7%) and semi and non-durable consumer goods (2.0%) had results below the overall average.

In the comparison with the immediately previous quarter, in the series seasonally adjusted, the industrial sector has been growing for eight consecutive quarters, accumulating, therefore, expansion of 9.8%, in relation to the period July-September 2005.  In this same base of comparison, the categories of use had the following performances: capital goods (26.6%), durable consumer goods (18.5%), intermediate goods (7.3%) and semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods (6.2%).

In the analysis by quarters, the growth of 6.4% in the third quarter of 2007 compared to similar period of 2006 was the highest since the third quarter of 2004 (10.4%), maintaining a series of positive results for sixteen consecutive quarters.

Between the second and third quarters of 2007, both comparisons with equal periods of 2006, the segment of durable consumer goods showed major acceleration, changing from 6.4% to 13.8%.  The result was supported by the growth of the production of automobiles (from 9.5% to 17.6%); household equipment (from 4.1% to 7.3%); and mobiles, which changed the negative rate of 3.5% in the period April-June, to an increase of 13.2% in July-September.  Capital goods also had a major dynamism in this period changing from 18.4% to 20.4%, supported by the performance of capital goods for transportation (from 14.4% to 26.8%), electricity (19.3% to 30.5%), construction (from 19.8% to 26.7%) and agricultural capital goods (from 52.2% to 71.7%), as a consequence of the recovery of the agricultural sector and the low base of comparison. 

Still in this comparison, the sector of intermediate goods, while changing from 4.5% in the second quarter to 4.3% in the third quarter of 2007 practically maintained the rhythm of growth in the quarterly indexes.  The only negative result came from the sub-sector of food products and elaborated beverages for industry (-3.9%) influenced, mainly, by the reduction in the production of crystallized sugar.  On the other hand stood out the sub-sectors of elaborated industrial inputs (3.4%) and parts and accessories for industrial transportation (16.1%) favored respectively by the items herbicides and parts for automobiles.  The segment of semi and non-durable consumer goods was the only category which showed deceleration between the second and third quarters (from 4.5% to 3.4%), as a consequence of the reduction in the rhythm of growth of the sub-sectors of other non-durable goods (from 3.9% to 2.9%), food products and elaborated beverages for domestic consumption (from 4.6% to 2.9%) and fuels (from 7.0% to 4.4%).

In the indicator accumulated January-September, the overall rate was 5.4% and showed the positive performance in the majority (21) of the surveyed activities.  The main contribution on the overall result came from automotive vehicles (12.5%), followed by machines and equipment (17.5%), other chemical products (5.8%) and basic metallurgy (6.7%).  All the categories of use showed positive rates, especially capital goods (18.0%), followed by consumer durable goods (7.6%).  The production of intermediate goods (4.2%) and semi and non-durable consumer goods (3.1%) increased below the industrial average (5.4%).