In April 2009, the seasonally adjusted regional indexes of industrial production increased in comparison with March in 7 of the 14 areas surveyed, being the highlights Espírito Santo (7.1%), with the biggest increase, followed by Goiás and Rio Grande do Sul (both with 2.3%) and Ceará (1.7%); al these areas had indexes above the national average (1.1%). São Paulo (1.0%), Minas Gerais (0.6%) and Santa Catarina (0.5%) complete the group of areas with positive rates. Bahia (-11.0%), Northeast Region (-5.1%) and Amazonas (-5.0%) had the main increases of this indicator.

Compared to April 2008, there was decrease in 14 areas. Besides the high comparison basis, April 2009 had one business day less than April 2008. The most significant falling results were those of Espírito Santo (-26.7%), Minas Gerais (-21.6%), Amazonas (-21.1%) and Bahia (-20.4%). Areas with decrease below the national average were Paraná (-2.8%), Ceará (-2.9%), Rio de Janeiro (-3.9%) and Goiás (-4.2%).

In comparison of the first four months of 2009 with the same period in the previous year, all the areas faced decrease of rhythm in relation to the third four-month period of 2008. Areas with decreases above the -14.7% registered in the country were Espírito Santo (-30.3%), Minas Gerais (-23.5%), Amazonas (-19.8%), Rio Grande do Sul (-16.4%), São Paulo (-15.4%) and Santa Catarina (-15.0%).

In the seasonally adjusted analysis, the continuous acceleration of industrial production in the first four months of the year increased by 6.2% between April and December for Brazil as a whole. This process of recovery occurred in ten of the fourteen areas surveyed.

 

AMAZONAS

 

In April, the industrial production of Amazonas faced decrease compared to the result in the immediately previous month (-5.0%), in the seasonally adjusted series, having accumulated decrease of 13.4% between December and April. The quarterly moving average index has remained on a downward trend for seven months, with accumulated loss of 19.0% in this period.

 

Compared to April 2008, the decrease by 21.1% was the sixth consecutive negative rate in this type of comparison. Seven of the eleven subsectors surveyed brought negative contributions to the overall average, especially electronic, computer and communication material and equipment (-37.2%), other transportation equipment (-34.4%) and food products and beverages (-15.1%). The main positive highlights came from machinery and equipment (32.3%) and editing and printing (10.8%).

 

Production in the first four months of the year was 19.8% lower than in the same period last year; there has been bigger decrease since the last four-month period of 2007. The indicator accumulated in the last twelve months, on a downward trend since September (8.3%) reached -5.6% in April. 

 

PARÁ 

 

In April, the industrial production of Pará decreased 3.6% compared to the result in April, in the seasonally adjusted series, after having increased for three consecutive months and having accumulated gain of 3.3%. The quarterly moving average index, which increased 1.1% in March, after a sequence of four negative results, decreased once more in April (-0.4%).

 

Compared to results in the same month last year, the industrial sector fell 7.5% and had the fifth consecutive negative result in this type of comparison.  This decrease can be seen as a consequence of the negative performance of five among the six subsectors surveyed. The most significant contributions, in this case, came from mining and quarrying industry (-17.2%), wood (-28.2%) and food products and beverages (-14.7%). Metallurgy (20.8%) was the main positive impact, due to the production of aluminum oxide. 

 

Considering the index accumulated in the first four quarters of 2009, industry in Pará remained on a downward trend as observed since the second four-month period of 2008; the decrease by 6.8% was the first negative result in this type of comparison and the lowest one in the time series. The index accumulated in the last twelve months, on a downward trend since November last year (6.8%) reached 1.2%.

 

 

NORTHEAST REGION

 

In April, the industry in the Northeast Region faced decrease of 5.1% compared to march, in the seasonally adjusted series, after having increased for three consecutive months, a period in which it accumulated gain of 5.3%. As a consequence, the quarterly moving average index, which had increased 1.7% in March, fell once more in April, by 0.6%. 

 

Compared to the same month in the previous year, the sector faced decrease of 15.6%. The seventh consecutive negative rate was affected by the decrease in ten of the eleven subsectors surveyed. Petroleum refining and alcohol production (-65.3%) was the most significant negative contribution to the overall index, due to the production decrease faced by all the subsectors surveyed in this subsector. Cellulose and paper had the only positive rate (7.6%).

 

Considering the indicator accumulated in January-April, the industrial sector decreased 10.9% and accelerated compared to the result obtained in the last four months of 2008 (-2.5%); both comparisons refer to the same period in the previous year. The annualized rate, the indicator accumulated inn the last twelve months, on a downward trend since September 2008, reached -4.3%. 

 

CEARÁ

 

In April, the seasonally adjusted industrial production of Ceará increased 1.7% in relation to the immediately previous month; this was the third consecutive positive rate, resulting in an accumulated figure of 4.4% in the period. With these results, the quarterly moving average index increased 1.5% in April, after having increment of 0.9% in March.

 

The industrial production of Ceará decreased both compared to April 2008 (-2.9%) and in terms of the index accumulated in the first four months of 2009 (-6.3%). In terms of the monthly indicator, the industry of fell by 2.9% with negative rates in five of the tem industrial activities surveyed, being the main negative impact that of food products and beverages (-14.0%). The most significant positive contributions came from petroleum refining and alcohol production (131.6%) and from apparel and accessories apparel (18.1%).

 

The annualized rate, which changed from -0.4% in March to -1.1% in April, has been on a downward trend since October 2008 (3.5%).

 

PERNAMBUCO

 

In April, the industrial production of Pernambuco, in the seasonally adjusted series, decreased by 3.5%, after having increased 5.2% in March. With these results, the quarterly moving average index decreased 1.4% from March to April, after having increased by 1.7% in March.

 

Compared to similar periods in 2008, the monthly indicator and the indicator accumulated in the year were also negative: -7.9% and -10.4%, respectively. The monthly indicator of industry in Pernambuco, which had its third consecutive negative rate, decreased in eight of the eleven subsectors surveyed. The main negative contribution came from rubber and plastic (-36.3%). Other negative results were those of electric machines, appliances and equipment (-26.0%) and metallurgy (-9.3%). The main positive impacts were those of chemical products (2.9%) and cellulose and paper (8.2%).

 

In terms of the indicator accumulated in the first four months of the year, the production of Pernambuco industry decreased 10.4%; it has remained on a downward trend since the second quarter of 2008 (1.5%); both comparisons refer to the same period in the previous year.  The annualized rate changed from -2.2% in March to -2.9% in April, and has remained on a downward trend since November  2008 (5.6%).

 

BAHIA

 

In April, the seasonally adjusted industrial production of Bahia decreased 11.0% in relation to the immediately previous month, after having increased by 1.0% in March and having practically surpassed the increase observed in January (14.2%).  With these results, the quarterly moving average index changed slightly (0.2%), after having increased 3.3% in March.

 

Compared to the same month in the previous year, the industrial production of Bahia decreased by 20.4%, the seventh consecutive negative rate obtained in this type of comparison. The decrease reflects the decrease in seven of the nine subsectors surveyed. The main negative contribution to the overall rate came from petroleum refining and alcohol production (-68.0%). Other highlights were chemical products (-5.2%) and metallurgy (-15.6%). Cellulose and paper (8.0%) and non-metallic minerals (5.9%) had positive rates. 

 

In terms of the indicator accumulated in the first four months of the year, the industry of Bahia decreased by 12.7% and accelerated compared to the last four months of 2008 (-1.5%); both comparisons refer to the same period in the previous year. The annualized rate, the indicator accumulated in the last twelve months, decreased 3.7% and has remained on a downward trend since October 2008 (4.7%).

 

 

MINAS GERAIS

 

The seasonally adjusted industrial production of Minas Gerais increased 0.6% from March to April, the fourth consecutive positive rate, having accumulated 12.2% of increase in the period. As a result, the quarterly moving average indicator remained positive, and increased 3.4% between March and April.

 

Compared to April 2008, industry in the state of Minas fell 21.6%, with most significant negative performances coming from mining and quarrying industry (-31.0%), due to the reduced extraction of iron ore, in mining and quarrying industry (-20.0%). In the quarter, the most significant impacts occurred to the metallurgy (-36.5%), automotive vehicles (-20.7%) and machinery and equipment (-48.8%).

 

The evolution in terms of four-month periods showed increase of the decrease rhythm from the third to the fourth four-month period of 2008 (-7.7%) to the first four-month period of 2009 (-23.5%). Considering the indicator accumulated in the first four months of the year, the industry of Minas Gerais decreased 23.5% compared to the same period in 2008, with ten of the thirteen periods presenting negative decreases. The index accumulated in the last twelve months, in deceleration since March 2008, lost 2.3 percentage points from March (-6.0%) to April (-8.3%).

 

ESPÍRITO SANTO 

 

The industrial production of Espírito Santo, increased 7.1% in April, compared to March, in the seasonally adjusted series, after having decreased 3.5% in the previous month. As a consequence, the quarterly moving average index, with 3.9% of increase between March and April, interrupted a sequence of ten months with negative rates, a period in which it accumulated loss of 32.2%. 

 

Compared to the same month in the previous year, the decrease of 26.7% was the major one among the areas surveyed, with negative rates in the five subsectors surveyed. Mining and quarrying industry (-44.2%) and metallurgy (-38.0%) accounted for the major impacts, being the highlights the items iron ore and steel ingots, blocks and billets, respectively. 

 

In the first four-month period of 2009, the industrial production of Espírito Santo fell 30.4% and had a more intense rhythm of decrease compared to the last four-month period last year (-10.4%); both comparisons refer to the same period as in the previous year. The index accumulated in the last twelve months, on a downward trend since October, lost 3.8 percentage points from March (-5.9%) to April (-9.7%).  

 

RIO DE JANEIRO

 

The industrial production of Rio de Janeiro faced, in April, decrease of 0.5% compared to results in March, in the seasonally adjusted series, after increasing 5.4% in the previous month. The quarterly moving average index increased (1.1%); it was the second consecutive positive rate, with accumulated increase of 1.8% in these two months. 

 

Compared to April 2008, the subsector also faced decrease (-3.9%); it was the sixth consecutive negative rate in this type of comparison. The result was affected by the negative performance of manufacturing industry (-7.9%), once the mining and quarrying sector remains on a downward trend (12.6%). Other highlights are the negative contributions which came from other chemical products (-21.5%), non-metallic minerals (-23.1%), editing and printing (-13.5%) and automotive vehicles (-13.1%). The main positive impacts came from pharmaceutical industry (49.4%) and petroleum refining and alcohol production (15.3%).

 

The indicator accumulated in the year was -9.5%, with a rhythm of decrease below that of the first quarter of the year (-11.3%). The annualized rate confirms the downward trend which started in September (3.5%), when the rate changed from -2.3% in March to -2.4% in April.

 

SÃO PAULO 

 

The industry of São Paulo increased 1.0% in April, the fourth consecutive positive rate, having accumulated gain of 5.5% since January (seasonally adjusted series). As a result, the quarterly moving average index (0.9%) increased for the second consecutive month, with hike of 2.4% between February and April. 

 

Compared to April 2008, production decreased 16.2%, the sixth consecutive negative rate in this type of comparison. The decrease reflected the negative performance of fifteen of the twenty subsectors surveyed; the most significant contributions to the overall rate came from machinery and equipment (-36.5%), electronic material and communication equipment (-60.3%) and automotive vehicles (-23.5%) being responsible for the most significant contributions to the overall rate. Food products (7.4%), other transportation equipment (16.3%) and petroleum refining and alcohol production (7.9%) were the main positive contributions. 

 

Considering the indicator accumulated in the year, there was decrease by 15.4%. In the analysis by four-month periods, this was the lowest result in the time series. The annualized rate, which has been on a downward trend since last July last, reached -2.9% in April, its lowest figure since September 2002 (-3.0%). 

 

PARANÁ

 

In April, the seasonally adjusted industrial production of Paraná remained practically stable (-0.1%) compared to the immediately previous month, after decreasing 2.6% in March. Also in the seasonally adjusted series, the quarterly moving average index increased 0.9%, the third consecutive positive rate, accumulating gain of 5.0% in the period. 

 

In relation to April 2008, there was decrease by 2.8%, with negative results in nine of the fourteen activities surveyed. The contributions of automotive vehicles (-32.4%), machinery and equipment (-26.0%) and wood (-23.8%) were the most relevant ones to the formation of the overall rate.

 

The indicator relative to the first four-month period of the year decreased 1.4%, decelerating in relation to the last four-month period of last year (5.0%). The indicator accumulated in the last twelve months, which has fallen since November 2008, reached 4.8% in April, its lowest result since July 2007 (4.5%). On the other hand, the main positive impacts were: editing and printing (94.9%) and food products (8.0%).

 

SANTA CATARINA

 

The seasonally adjusted index of industrial production of Santa Catarina had, for the second consecutive month, positive rate compared to the immediately previous month: 0.5% in March and 0.8% in April, having accumulated gain of 1.3% in the period. Even considering these results, the quarterly moving average index decreased 1.1% between the quarters which ended in March and April; it has remained on a downward trend as observed in September last year. 

 

In relation to April 2008 the subsector faced decrease of 17.8%, the seventh consecutive negative rate in this type of comparison. There was decrease in ten of the eleven industrial activities investigated. The main negative contributions to the overall rate came from machinery and equipment (-35.0%) and automotive vehicles (-51.2%). The only positive rate came from apparel and accessories (0.2%).

 

In terms of the production accumulated in the first four-months of the year, compared to the same period of 2008, decrease of industrial production in Santa Catarina was 15.0%, increasing the reduction compared to the last four-month period of last year (-4.2%); both comparisons erfer to the same period in the previous year.  The index accumulated in the last twelve months changed from -4.5% in March to -6.8% in April. 

 

RIO GRANDE DO SUL

 

In April, industrial production in Rio Grande do Sul, in the seasonally adjusted series, increased 2.3% compared to March, after decreasing by 0.6% in the previous month. Being also seasonally adjusted, the quarterly moving average index increased 1.2% between the quarters which ended in April and March; this was the second consecutive positive rate, resulting in accumulated gain of 2.6% in the period.

 

Compared to the same month last year, the industrial sector faced decrease of 15.1%, the sixth consecutive negative two-digit rate. The result was mainly affected by the negative impacts which came from tem of the fourteen areas surveyed, mainly machinery and equipment (-46.8%), under the influence of the 85%-decrease of products surveyed in this subsector. The main positive contribution to the overall average came from other chemical products, with unusual increase of 64%, due to a technical halt of activities in companies of this sector in April 2008; it was also affected by the biggest production of the items ethylene, styrene-butadiene rubber, polypropylene, high-density polyethylene and propene. 

 

The result of the first four months of 2009 (-16.4%) worsened the decrease observed in the last foru months of 2008 (-2.2%), both compared to the same period in the previous year. There was overall decrease, reaching thirteen of the fourteen subsectors surveyed. In terms of the index accumulated in the year, there was decrease by 5.3%. 

 

GOIÁS

 

In April, industrial activity in Goiás increased 2.3% compared to March, in the seasonally adjusted series, after being practically stable in the two previous months (0.1% in February and -0.1% in March). Also with seasonal adjustment, the quarterly moving average index 0.8% in April and interrupted a series of eight negative results, a period in which it accumulated decrease of 8.6%.

 

Compared to April 2008, industry in Goiás decreased 4.2%, affected by the negative performance of the five activities surveyed. The main contributions to the formation of the overall rate came from chemical products (-18.6%) and food products and beverages (-2.1%), in which the main highlights, with decrease in production, were medicines and fresh beef. 

 

The indicator accumulated in the first four months of the year was -6.3%, presenting deceleration in comparison with the result of the last four months of last year (2.3%). The indicator accumulated in the last twelve months, after changing from  4.4% in March to 2.9% in April, has remained on a downward trend since August last year.