The Annual Survey of Construction Industry (PAIC) of 2008 observed expansion in all groups of products and services of construction in companies with 30 or more employed persons. In relation to 2007, infrastructure works grew 27.1%; industrial, commercial, and other non-residential construction, 28.8%; and the group specialized services for construction, 21.1%. The figure for the segment residential construction increased 20.7%, principally because of the increase observed in residential buildings (21.2%).

PAIC 2008 used version 2.0 of the National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE), instead of version 1.0, which had been used in the previous survey. The richer detailing of CNAE 2.0 allows a closer analysis of the evolution of construction activities. In this survey, products were aggregated into four big groups: residential construction; industrial, commercial and other non-residential construction; infrastructure works and specialized services. Considering companies with 30 or more employed persons, all groups presented growth from 2007 to 2008.

Next are the main highlights of PAIC 2008.

In 2008, the value of developments, works and services was R$ 159.0 billion, what represents a 22.3% increase in nominal terms and 12.3% in real terms in relation to 2007. The net revenue of companies was R$ 149.6 billion, a nominal growth of 19.8% in relation to the value of 2007, R$ 124.9 billion. The companies carried out works and services that are worth R$ 154.1 billion, of which R$ 67.6 billion were constructions for public entities. These represented 43.9% of total construction, accounting for a greater participation than that observed in 2007 (40.3%).

The 56.6 thousand active companies of the construction sector employed approximately 1.8 million people in 2008; in 2007 around 52 thousand companies had employed approximately 1.6 million people: there was increase. The total cost with employed personnel was R$ 38.2 billion, of which R$ 25.5 billion covered salaries, withdrawals and other remuneration, what meant a monthly average of 2.6 minimum wages; in 2007 the total cost with personnel was 29.3 billion. Of this value, 19.6 billion covered salaries, withdrawals and other remuneration (Table 1).

Several factors benefited the increase of Construction Industry between 2007 and 2008, mainly programs of financing and support to infrastructure projects on electric energy, renewable energy, petroleum and natural gas, logistics and telecommunications. Other favorable factors were: increased family income and employment; increased credit operations destined to housing; reduced federal VAT of diverse construction inputs, among others. Besides, economy grew more than 5% in the year for the second consecutive time.

Next the results from PAIC 2008 are presented, considering companies with 30 or more employed persons.

Real estate credit promotes growth for the group residential construction

The value of residential construction grew 20.7% in nominal terms. The main product in construction, residential buildings, increased 21.2%. Expansion of real estate credit stimulated it. According to the Central Bank of Brazil, the value lent for real estate financing was R$ 29.1 billion, 65.0% superior to that lent in 2007 and the number of financed units, 294.2 thousand, was 52.0% higher than that of the previous survey. Of this amount, 53.1% were destined to new real estate constructions. In 2008, R$ 10.5 billion were allocated for the financing of affordable housing with resources from the federally run Severance Pay Fund (FGTS), a figure 69.4% bigger than those R$ 6.2 billion allocated in 2007.

Increases in real estate undertakings (11%) and administration of constructions (33.7%) were also observed.

Infrastructure increases 27.1% in relation to 2007

The group infrastructure works had an increase of 27.1% in relation to 2007. The main positive impacts came from industrial plants and facilities (piping, facility networks, etc.) with expansion of 199.6% and paving of highways, roads and other non-urban ways, with an increase of 48.3%. Increases were also observed in electric energy, which includes hydro-electric power stations, thermal power stations, nuclear power plants and wind farms (54.2%) and networks of transmission and distribution of electricity (35.7%). Works of civil engineering not previously specified (52.8%); streets, squares, sidewalks, parking lots (55.8%) and pipes, for petroleum, gas, or ore, etc. (26.5%) also presented increases.

Other groups of construction industry also had positive results

The value of industrial, commercial construction and other non-residential construction had an increase of 28.8% in 2008. Within the sector, increases of 408.0% stand out, in stations (bus, airports, harbors, subway and trains), 41.9% in commercial buildings, such as supermarkets, of 14.9% in industrial buildings (factories, workshops and sheds, etc.) and 22.1% in services of renovation or maintenance of non-residential buildings.

The group specialized services for construction presented growth of 21.1% pressed by positive variations from excavation and land moving (earthworks) with 49.4% of growth between 2007 and 2008, electric facilities with 54.0% and foundations with 105.9%.