In October 2021, the national industrial production fell by 0.6% compared to September, in the seasonally adjusted series, the fifth consecutive negative result, accumulating a loss of 3.7% in that period. In relation to October 2020, in the non-adjusted series, the industry decreased by 7.8% in October 2021, intensifying the reductions of September (-4.0%) and August (-0.6%). In the year, the industry accumulates increases of 5.7% and, the same rate, of 5.7, is seen in twelve months.

October’s 0.6% retreat of industry, against the previous month, reached three of the four major economic categories and 19 of the 26 segments surveyed.

Among the activities, the most important negative influences came from mining and quarrying (-8.6%) and food products (-4.2%), with the former retreating again after increasing 2.2% in the previous month, when it interrupted three consecutive negative results and which accrued a loss of 2.5%; and the second intensifying the reduction of 3.2% in September.

Other negative contributions came from machinery and equipment (-4.9%), electrical machinery and equipment (-5.6%), textiles (-7.7%), basic metals (-1.9% ), maintenance, repair and installation of machinery and equipment (-21.6%), wood products (-6.6%), manufacture of apparel and accessories (-4.1%), fabricated metal products (-1.9%), motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (-0.8%) and pharmaceutical products (-2.4%).

On the other hand, among the seven activities with growth in production, coke, petroleum products and biofuels (3.7%) exerted the main impact in October 2021, intensifying the increase in September (1.0%).  It is worth mentioning the positive results of other chemical products (2.1%) and rubber and plastic products (1.8%).

Among the major economic categories, compared to September as well, durable consumer goods, dropping 1.9%, had the sharpest negative rate of October 2021, the tenth decrease in a row, accumulating a loss of 28.3% in this period. The segments of semi- and non-durable consumer goods (-1.2%) and of intermediate goods (-0.9%) also had negative results with  semi- and non-durable consumer goods, increasing the reduction recorded in September (-0.2%), when it interrupted two months in a row of decrease in production and intermediate goods, dropping 5.1% in eight consecutive months of decrease.

On the other hand, the sector of capital goods (2.0%) had he only positive rate in October 2021, eliminating part of the 2.3% loss which was accumulated in August and September this year.

Quarterly moving average falls 0.7% in quarter ended in October

Still in the seasonally-adjusted series, the quarterly moving average for the whole industry had a negative change of 0.7% in the quarter ended in October 2021 against the previous month and kept the downward trend started in January 2021.

Among the major economic categories, in relation to the index move on margin, durable consumer goods (-2.1%) recorded the sharpest negative rate in October 2021, remaining, therefore, in the downward trend started in December 2020. The sectors of intermediate goods |(-0.6%), semi- and non-durable consumer goods (-0.3%) and capital goods (-0.1%) also had negative results this month. Intermediate goods recorded the eight month in a row of decrease and accumulated in the period a reduction of 4.5%;  semi- and non-durable consumer goods offset the positive change of 0.2% recorded in September and capital goods interrupted the prevailing upward trend started in May 2021.

Compared to October 202, industry fell 7.8%

Compared with October 2020, the industrial sector retreated 7.8% in October 2021, with negative figures in three out of four major economic categories, 19 out of 26 sectors, 56 out of 79 groups and 60.7% of the 805 products surveyed. It is worth mentioning that October 2021 (20 days) had one less business day than the same month in the prior year (21).

Among the activities, the main negative influences came from food products (-17.1%) and motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (-14.5%). Other relevant negative contributions computer equipment, electronic and optical products (-23.4%), mining and quarrying (-4.7%), fabricated metal products (-12.5%), electrical machinery and equipment (-16.7%), beverages (-9.2%), leather, traveling goods and footwear (-19.0%), rubber and plastic products (-9.5%), manufacture of apparel and accessories (-16 .0%), textiles (-18.7%), pharmaceutical products (-12.6%), furniture (-23.2%), maintenance, repair and installation of machinery and equipment (-22.8 %) and non-metallic mineral products (-4.7%).

On the other hand, also compared to October 2020, among the seven activities on the rise, other chemical products (4.2%) and machinery and equipment (4.1%) exerted the biggest influences on industry. Other important positive effects were those of coke, petroleum products and biofuels (1.4%) and basic metals (2.9%).

Among the major economic categories, against October 2020, durable consumer goods (-27.8%) recorded in October 2021 the sharpest fall. The sectors of  semi- and non-durable consumer goods (-10.3%) and of intermediate goods |(-6.3%) also posted negative results this month. The only positive rate among the major economic categories was that of capital goods (8.4%).

The sector of durable consumer goods retreated 27.8% in October 2021 over the same period in the previous year, intensifying, therefore, the decreases of September (-23.2%), August (-17.9%) and July (-9.7%) this year, when it interrupted four months of consecutive positive rates in this kind of comparison. This month, the sector was pressed by the reduction in the manufacture of cars (-32.5%), brown goods (-38.5%) and white goods (-31.7%). It is also worth mentioning the retreats registered by other household appliances (-13.1%) and furniture (-22.8%). On the other hand, the main positive impact came from the greater production of motorcycles (18.4%).

The segment of semi and non-durable consumer goods dropped 10.3% in October 2021, after also retreating in September (-5.6%) August (-1.2%) and July (-1.9%), when it interrupted four months of positive rates in a row in this kind of comparison. The negative performance this month was mainly explained by the reduction in the group of semi-durables (-21.5%) and food and beverages produced for domestic consumption (-7.9%).  It is also worth mentioning the negative results recorded by the segment of non-durables (-8.3%) and of fuels (-5.9%).

The sector of intermediate goods dropped 6.3% in October 2021, thus intensifying the reductions in September (-3.5%) and August (-1.9%).  This month's result was mainly explained by declines in products associated with food products (-26.6%), motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (-20.3%), mining and quarrying (-4.7 %), fabricated metal products (-11.4%), rubber and plastic products (-7.7%), textiles (-18.4%), non-metallic mineral products ( -4.8%) and machinery and equipment (-1.5%).  Positive pressures were registered by coke, petroleum products and biofuels (4.3%), other chemical products (4.2%), basic metals (2.9%) and pulp, paper and paper products (2.6 %).

It is also worth mentioning the negative results marked by the groups of typical inputs for civil construction (-9.7%), which intensified the magnitude of the loss registered in the previous month (-4.3%), when it interrupted fourteen months of consecutive positive rates in this type of comparison; and packaging (-12.4%), which showed the fifth consecutive decline in production and the most intense in this sequence.

The sector of capital goods advanced 8.4% in October 2021 over the same period of the previous year, the 14th positive rate in a row in this kind of comparison. In the formation of the index this month, the segment was influenced by the expansion observed in all its main groups, with a highlight ti capital goods for transportation equipment (9.4%).

The other positive rates came from the groups of capital goods for construction (30.9), for agriculture (13.7%), for electricity (7.8%) and for mixed purposes (1.7%).  On the other hand, the only negative impact was exerted by the subsector of capital goods for industrial purposes (-8.4%).

All the major economic categories accrued highs in the year.

The cumulative index for the year, against the same period a year ago, reached 5.7%, with positive figures 4 of the 4 major economic categories, 20 out of the 26 sectors, 5 out of the 79 groups and 66.0% of the 805 products surveyed.

Among the activities, motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (28.2%), machinery and equipment (29.8%) and basic metals (20.7%) exerted the major positive influences on the industrial average.

Other positive contributions came from  non-metallic mineral products (17.6%), other chemicals (7.0%), fabricated metal products (10.0%), wearing apparel and accessories (19.5%), rubber products and plastic material (8.9%), electrical machinery and apparatus (9.2%), textiles (15.4%), wood products (14.3%), leather, travel goods and footwear (11.3%), miscellaneous products (15.6%), other transportation equipment (19.1%) and pulp, paper and paper products (3.5%).

Among the activities, the major negative influences came from food products (-8.8%) and coke, petroleum products and biofuels (-1.4%).

Among the major economic categories, capital goods (34.1%) and durable consumer goods (7.1%) showed greatest dynamism in the year. The segments of intermediate goods (4.6%) and semi and non-durable consumer goods (0.9%) also rose in the year, though below the industry average (5.7%).