In April 2023, national industrial production fell by 0.6% compared to March, in the seasonally adjusted series. In relation to April 2022, in the non-adjusted series, there was a decrease of 2.7%. The cumulative rate in the year was -1.0% and the cumulative rate in 12 months, -0.2%.

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Two of the four Major Economic Categories and 16 of the 25 industrial branches surveyed showed a decline in production. Among the activities, the most important negative influences came from Food products (-3.2%), Machinery and equipment (-9.9%) and Motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (-4.6%), with the first one registering the fourth consecutive month of production decline, a period in which it accumulated a reduction of 7.3%; the second eliminating the advance of 6.7% registered in the previous month; and the third retreating again after signaling zero change in last March and February.

Other relevant negative contributions came from Computer equipment, electronic and optical products (-9.4%), Mining and quarrying industries (-1.1%), Beverages (-3.6%), Fabricated metal products (-3 .3%), Other transportation equipment (-5.2%) and Electric machinery, equipment and material (-2.9%).

Among the nine activities with an increase in production, Coke, petroleum products and biofuels (3.6%) exerted the main impact in April 2023 and marked the third consecutive positive result, a period in which it accumulated growth of 6. 3%.

Among the major economic categories, still compared to the previous month, capital goods (-11.5%) and durable consumer goods (-6.9%) recorded negative rates in April 2023, with the former interrupting two consecutive months of expansion in production, period in which it advanced 8.9%; and the second eliminating the 2.2% growth registered in the previous month.

On the other hand, the sectors of semi and non-durable consumer goods (1.1%) and intermediate goods (0.4%) showed advances in April 2023, with the first eliminating the cumulative loss of 0.6% in February-March 2023; and the second accumulating expansion of 1.8% in three consecutive months of growth in production.

Quarterly moving average changes 0.1% in the quarter ended in April

Also in the seasonally adjusted series, the evolution of the quarterly moving average index for the industry total was 0.1% in the quarter ended in April 2023 compared to the level of the previous month, after also advancing in last March (0.2%).

Among the major economic categories, also in the seasonally adjusted series, intermediate goods (0.6%) had the highest positive rate in April 2023 and intensified the advance registered in the previous month (0.2%). The sector producing semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods (0.2%) also grew in that month, after decreasing by 0.2% in the previous month, when it interrupted the upward trend started in November 2022.

The segments of durable consumer goods (-2.2%) and capital goods (-1.2%) recorded negative results in April 2023, with the first marking the third consecutive month of decline and accumulating reduction of 2.6% in the period; and the second retreating again after growing 1.4% in the previous month, when it interrupted the downward trend started in May 2022.

Compared to April 2022, industrial production decreased by 2.7%

In comparison with the same month of the previous year, the industrial sector had a reduction of 2.7% in April 2023, with negative results in the four major economic categories, 18 of the 25 branches, 57 of the 80 groups and 58.4% of the 789 products researched. It is worth mentioning that April 2023 (18 days) had one business day less than the same month of the previous year (19).

The main negative influences on industry came from chemical products (-12.2%), motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (-9.7%) and machinery and equipment (-14.3%). Also of note were computer equipment, electronic and optical products (-15.7%), basic metals (-5.5%), electric machinery, equipment and material (-12.2%), fabricated metal products
 (8.7%), non-metallic mineral products (-9.6%), beverages (-7.2%), wearing apparel and accessories manufacturing (-9.9%) and wood products (- 15.9%).

On the other hand, also compared to April 2022, among the seven rising activities, coke, petroleum products and biofuels (3.2%) and pharmaceuticals (18.1%) were the main influencers in the formation of industry average. Other important positive impacts came from food products (2.0%), mining and quarrying industries (1.4%) and other transportation equipment (19.2%).

Capital goods category fell by 14.2% against April 2022

Among the major economic categories, still in comparison with the same month of the previous year, capital goods (-14.2%) registered the sharpest reduction. The sector producing durable consumer goods (-3.5%) also showed a drop higher than the national average (-2.7%), while the segments of intermediate goods (-2.6%) and consumer goods semi and non-durable goods (-0.2%) registered the other negative results.

The sector producing capital goods showed a drop of 14.2% in April 2023 compared to the same period of the previous year, the eighth consecutive negative rate in this type of comparison and the most intense since August 2020 (-14.5%).

The production of durable consumer goods decreased by 3.5% in April 2023 compared to the same period of the previous year, interrupting three consecutive months of growth in this comparison.

Compared to April 2022, the segment of intermediate goods showed a reduction of 2.6% in April 2023, the fifth consecutive negative rate in this type of comparison.

The sector producing semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods decreased by 0.2% in April 2023, interrupting four consecutive months of growth in this comparison.

Cumulative index in the year has a reduction of 1.0%

The cumulative index in the year, compared to the same period of the previous year, was -1.0%, with negative results in two of the four major economic categories, 15 of the 25 branches, 46 of the 80 groups and 53.5% of the 789 products surveyed. Among the activities, the main negative influences on the industry total were registered by chemical products (-8.1%), non-metallic mineral products (-9.6%), basic metals (-4.8%) and machinery and equipment (-6.4%).

It is also worth highlighting the negative contributions of wood products (-17.5%), motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (-3.5%), icomputer equipment, electronic and optical products (-9.5%), electrical machinery, equipment and material (-8.5%), wearing apparel and accessory manufacturing (-9.1%) and fabricated metal products ( -4.1%).

On the other hand, among the ten activities with an increase, mining and quarrying industries (2.9%), coke, petroleum products and biofuels (3.4%) and pharmaceuticals (17.4%) exerted the main influences. Other important positive impacts were recorded by other transportation equipment (15.8%), food products (0.9%) and rubber and plastic products (3.2%).

Among the major economic categories, the results for the first four months of 2023 showed less dynamism for capital goods (-8.3%), driven, to a great extent, by the reductions observed in the manufacture of capital goods for industrial purposes (- 10.2%), for electricity (-18.1%) and for transportation equipment (-5.2%). The sector producing intermediate goods (-2.0%) also registered a negative result and with a more intense loss than that verified in the industry average (-1.0%). On the other hand, the segment of durable consumer goods (5.8%) recorded the sharpest increase in the first four months of 2023. The sector producing semi and non-durable consumer goods (2.3%) also showed growth in the cumulative indicator in the year.