In March 2023, the national industry output increased by 1.1% from February, in the seasonally-adjusted series. Against March 2022, in the seasonally-adjusted series, there was an increase of 0.9%. As a result, the cumulative index in the year reached -0.4%, whereas the cumulative index in 12 months remained stable (0.0%).

There was output increase in three of the four major economic categories and 16 of the 25 subsectors surveyed. Among the activities, the most relevant positive influences came from coke, petroleum products and biofuels (1.7%), machinery and equipment (5.1%) and computer equipment, electronic and optical products (6.7%). The first subsector added to the 0.5% of February; the second reversed the decrease of 0.7% in the previous month; and the last one had a cumulative increase of 8.6% in two months.

Other relevant positive contributions came from pharmaceuticals (3.2%), other transportation equipment (4.8%), chemicals (0.6%), leather, traveling goods and footwear (2.8%) and non-metallic mineral products (1.2%).

On the other hand, among the eight activities recording decrease, manufacture of wearing apparel and accessories (-4.7%) accounted for the main impact on the result of March 2023, having interrupted a sequence of three consecutive increases, with a cumulative 13.5%. It is also worth mentioning the drops in furniture (-4.3%) and metal products (-1.0%).

Among the major economic categories, also against the immediately previous month, capital goods (6.3%) and durable consumer goods (2.5%) accounted for the main positive rates in March 2023, with the former recording a cumulative increase of 7.0% in two consecutive months of increase, and the second eliminating part of the loss of 2.7% relative to the first two months of 2023. The sector of intermediate goods (0.9%) also increased and added to the advance of 0.5% of last February.

On the other hand, the only negative rate came from semi and non-durable consumer goods (-0.5%), in its second month of decrease, resulting in a cumulative drop of 0.7%.

Quarterly moving average changes by 0.2% in the quarter ended March

Also in the seasonally-adjusted series, the quarterly moving average of industry hit 0.2% in the quarter ended march 2023 against the previous month.

Among the major economic categories, also in relation to the marginal movement, the sector of capital goods (0.9%) recorded the main positive rate in March 2023 and interrupted the downward trend that had started in May 2022. The sector of intermediate goods (0.2%) also recorded increase in the month, após two consecutive drops in output, with a cumulative decrease of 0.6%.

On the other hand, the segments of semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods (-0.2%) and durable consumer goods (-0.1%) recorded negative results in March 2023. The former interrupted the upward trend which started in November 2022; and the latter had its second consecutive month of decrease, with a cumulative drop of 0.3% in the period.

Against March 2022, industry output advances 0.9%

Against the same month in 2020, the industrial sector grew 0.9%, with positive figures in two of the four major economic categories, 11 out of the 25 sectors, 39 out of the 80 groups and 44.6% of the 789 products surveyed. It is worth mentioning that March 2023 (23 days) had one business day more than the same month in the previous year (22).

The main positive influences on the total of industry came from coke, petroleum products and biofuels (11.2%), mining and quarrying industry (3.3%) and pharmaceuticals (15.7%). Other highlights were the positive contributions of other transportation equipment (22.3%), rubber products and plastic material (4.4%), food products (0.7%) printing and reproduction of recorded media (17.5%).

Against March 2022, among the 14 activities, chemicals (-9.5%) and basic metals (-5.4%) accounted for the main positive influences on the average of industry. Other negative impacts were those recorded by non-metallic mineral products (-7.3%), wood products (-15,5%), manufacture of wearing apparel and accessories (-7.3%) and electrical machinery and apparatus (-3.8%).

Durable consumer goods increased by 11.1% from March 2022

Among the major economic categories,also against the same month a year ago, durable consumer goods (11.1%) recorded the biggest increase. The sector of semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods (4.7%) also recorded a positive result in the month and with a most significant increase than observed in the average of industry (0.9%).

Capital goods (-0.5%) and intermediate goods (-1.1%) accounted for the main drops in the month.

The sector producing durable consumer goods grew 11.1% in March 2023 against the same period a year ago, third consecutive positive rate in this type of comparison. This month, a great impact on the sector was exerted by the expansion of the manufacture of cars (10.6%) and of white goods (24.7%) and brown goods (23.4%). It is also worth mentioning the advances in motorcycles (12.5%) and by the groups of other household appliances (43.3%) and furniture (4.4%).

The production of semi-durable and non-durable increased by 4.7%, fourth consecutive positive rate in this type of comparison and the most significant since May 2021 (14.4%). Accounting for the positive performance in the month were, mainly, the expansions observed in fuels (30.6%) and non-durable goods (9.6%), due, to a great extent, to the advances in the manufacture of automotive gasoline and ethyl alcohol, in the former; and of medicines, hair preparations, cigarettes, insecticides for industrial or domestic use, disenfectants and plastic articles for domestic use, in the latter.

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Ainda nessa categoria econômica, vale citar também os resultados positivos dos grupamentos de alimentos e bebidas elaborados para consumo doméstico (0,1%) e de alimentos e bebidas básicos para consumo doméstico (0,4%), influenciados, principalmente, pelas expansões dos itens carnes e miudezas de aves congeladas, biscoitos e bolachas, vinhos de uvas, produtos embutidos ou de salamaria e outras preparações de carnes, massas alimentícias cozidas, bombons e chocolates em barras, leite condensado e óleo de soja refinado, no primeiro; e filés e outras carnes de peixes frescos, refrigerados ou congelados, no segundo.

Dos semiduráveis (-1,8%) veio o único impacto negativo nessa categoria, com a menor produção de camisetas, calças compridas (de malha ou não), vestuário e seus acessórios para bebês de malha, bermudas, jardineiras, shorts e semelhantes (de malha ou não), calçados femininos de couro, discos de vídeo (DVDs), lustres e luminárias, bolsas e mochilas, roupas de dormir ou de banho, vestuário infantil e seus acessórios de malha, artefatos de alumínio para uso doméstico, tênis masculino, garrafas térmicas e vestidos (de malha ou não).

Ainda no confronto com igual mês do ano anterior, o segmento de bens de capital recuou 0,5% em março de 2023, sétima taxa negativa consecutiva nessa comparação. Na formação do índice desse mês, o segmento foi influenciado, principalmente, pelos recuos observados nos grupamentos de bens de capital para energia elétrica (-19,7%) e agrícolas (-6,8%). Os demais resultados negativos foram registrados pelos grupamentos de para construção (-2,9%) e para equipamentos de transporte (-0,1%). Por outro lado, os impactos positivos foram assinalados pelos subsetores de bens de capital de uso misto (10,8%) e para fins industriais (1,1%).

O setor produtor de bens intermediários caiu 1,1% em março de 2023 frente a igual período do ano anterior, quarta taxa negativa consecutiva nesse tipo de comparação. O resultado desse mês foi explicado, principalmente, pelos recuos nos produtos associados às atividades de produtos químicos (-13,8%), de veículos automotores, reboques e carrocerias (-9,4%), de metalurgia (-5,4%), de produtos de minerais não metálicos (-7,3%), de produtos de metal (-1,6%), de celulose, papel e produtos de papel (-1,7%) e de máquinas e equipamentos  
(-1,3%), enquanto as pressões positivas foram registradas por coque, produtos derivados do petróleo e biocombustíveis (5,8%), indústrias extrativas (3,3%), produtos alimentícios (2,1%), produtos de borracha e de material plástico (3,7%) e produtos têxteis (1,2%).

Ainda nessa categoria, vale citar os resultados dos grupamentos de insumos típicos para construção civil (-0,9%), que marcou o décimo nono recuo seguido nessa comparação, mas o menos intenso dessa sequência; e de embalagens (3,5%), que mostrou o quarto avanço consecutivo e o mais elevado desde maio de 2021 (10,6%).

Acumulado no ano tem variação negativa de 0,4%

O acumulado de 2023, frente a igual período do ano anterior, foi de -0,4%, com resultados negativos em duas das quatro grandes categorias econômicas, 16 dos 25 ramos, 42 dos 80 grupos e 52,0% dos 789 produtos pesquisados. Entre as atividades, as principais influências negativas vieram de produtos químicos (-6,8%), produtos de minerais não metálicos (-9,6%), metalurgia (-4,6%) e produtos de madeira (-18,0%).

Vale destacar também as contribuições negativas dos ramos de confecção de artigos do vestuário e acessórios (-8,9%), de máquinas, aparelhos e materiais elétricos (-7,3%), de equipamentos de informática, produtos eletrônicos e ópticos (-7,4%) e de máquinas e equipamentos (-3,7%). Por outro lado, entre as nove atividades em alta, indústrias extrativas (3,4%), coque, produtos derivados do petróleo e biocombustíveis (3,4%) e produtos farmoquímicos e farmacêuticos (17,2%) exerceram as maiores influências. 

Outros impactos positivos importantes vieram de outros equipamentos de transporte (14,8%), bebidas (4,8%) e produtos de borracha e de material plástico (3,8%). Entre as grandes categorias econômicas, os três primeiros meses do ano tiveram menos dinamismo para bens de capital (-6,3%) e bens intermediários (-1,8%), ambos com perda mais intensa do que a média da indústria (-0,4%). Por outro lado, houve altas nos acumulados no ano de bens de consumo duráveis (8,9%) e de bens de consumo semi e não duráveis (3,2%).