In April 2020, the output of industry fell 18.8% against the result of March 2020 (seasonally adjusted series). It is the most significant decrease since the beginning of the time series, in 2002, and reflects the effects of social isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That is the second month of output drop in a row, with a cumulative decrease of 26.1%. Against April 2019 (without adjustment), industry fell by 27.2%, and recorded the sixth consecutive decrease and the negative record of the time series in this comparison. Industry had a cumulative decrease of 8.2% in the year. In terms of cumulative figures in 12 months, industry recorded a 2.9% drop. The complete publication is available on the right of the page. 

The decrease of 18.8% from March to April 2020 was the highest since the beginning of the time series, in January 2002. The result had an impact on the increase in the number of segments recording negative rates, reaching all the four major economic categories and 22 of the 26 subsectors surveyed. Those figures evidence the suspension of activities in many industrial plants due to the social isolation period in the COVID-19 pandemic. The quarterly moving average index fell 8.8% in April 2020 against the level in the previous month, thus contributing to the increase of 2.4% registered in March.

Output fell in all the major categories and in 22 of the 26 subsectors surveyed 

The reduction of industrial activity by 18.8% from March to April 2020 was widespread, being observed in all the major economic categories and in most of (22) the subsectors surveyed. Among the activities, the most significant negative contribution came from motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (-88.5%), affected, to a great extent, by interruptions of production in many industrial plants, as a consequence of the effects of the  COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, that subsector increased the decrease observed in the previous month (-28.0%) and registered the main decrease since the beginning of the time series. 

Other negative contributions to the industry overall came from coke, petroleum products and biofuels (-18.4%), basic metals (-28.8%), machinery and equipment (-30.8%), beverages (-37.6%), rubber and plastic products (-25.8%), non-metallic mineral products (-26.4%), metal products (-26.8%), electric machinery and apparatuses (-33.8%), other transportation equipment (-76.3%), leather, travel articles and footwear (-48.8%), manufacture of wearing apparel and accessories  (-37.5%), textiles (-38.6%),  computer, electronic and optical equipment (-26.0%), other chemicals (-7.3%), miscellaneous products (-30.6%) and furniture (-36.7%).

On the other hand, among the three subsectors that increased production in the month, the most significant in terms of the overall average were food products (3.3%) and pharmaceuticals (6.6%), both increasing again after a drop in the previous month: -1.0% and -11.0 %, respectively.

Among the major economic categories, also against March 2020, durable consumer goods, having decreased by 79.6%, recorded the most significant drop since April 2020, mainly due to the reduced  production of cars. That decrease was the most significant since the beginning of the time series and marked the third month in a row with decrease of output, with a cumulative loss of 84.4% in the period.

The segment of capital goods (-41.5%) also had a decrease that surpassed the national average (-18.8%), the biggest drop since the beginning of the time series. The sectors that produce intermediate goods (-14.8%) and semi and non-durable goods (-12.4%) also recorded decreases in output. The former had an even bigger decrease against the previous month (-3.7%); and the latter kept its negative behavior since November 2019 and had a cumulative loss of 25.2% in the period. Both segments registered the main negative results in their time series. 

Quarterly moving average index decreases 8.8%

Also concerning the seasonally adjusted series, the evolution of the quarterly moving average index for the industry overall fell 8.8% in the quarter ended April 2020 against the level in the previous month, intensifying the decrease of 2.4% registered last month, maintaining the predominantly downward trend initiated in October 2019. The fall reported this month was the biggest since the beginning of the time series.

Among the major economic categories, also in the seasonally adjusted series, the segments of durable consumer goods (-30.6%) and of capital goods (-17.5%) recorded the highest decreases this month, with the first maintaining the negative behavior recorded since December 2019 and with cumulative loss of 37.4%; and the second maintaining the downward trend observed since June 2019.

These two segments registered the most significant negative result since the beginning of the time series. The sectors producing semi and non-durable consumer goods (-8.1%) and intermediate goods (-5.7%) also showed negative rates in April 2020, with the first maintaining the downward trend that started in November 2019; and the second intensifying the drop reported in the previous month (-0.7%).

Industry decreased 27.2% in the comparison with April 2019
In the comparison with the same month in the previous year, the industrial sector showed a reduction of 27.2% in April 2020, with negative results in the four major economic categories, 22 out of the 26 sectors, 72 out of the 79 groups and 80.0% of 805 products surveyed. Besides the negative calendar effect, as April 2020 (20 days) had one business day less than the same month in the previous year (21 days), it is possible to see a deceleration in production as an the effect of social isolation (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), which affected the output in several production plants in the country.

Among the activities, that of motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (-92.1%) accounted for the highest negative influence on the industry average, influenced, to a great extent, by items cars, trucks, tractor trucks for trailers and semi-trailers, vehicles for transportation of goods and car pieces.

Also contributing with negative figures were the sectors of basic metals (-33.7%), machinery and equipment (-41.3%), beverages (-50.7%), manufacture of wearing apparel and accessories (-64.9%), non-metallic mineral products (-36.3%), leather articles, travel articles and footwear (-70.2%), rubber and plastic products (-33.8%), metal products (-34.1%), electrical machinery and apparatuses (-43.6%), computer equipment, electronic and optical products (-43.8%), coke, petroleum products and biofuels (-9.4%) and other transportation equipment (-81.0).

On the other hand, still comparing with April 2019, among the four activities that reported expansion in the output, the main influences on the industry overall were registered by mining and quarrying industry (10.1%) and food products (6.0%). Other positive impacts were registered by toiletries, soaps, cleaning and personal hygiene products (4.9%) and pulp, paper and paper products (1.0%).

Among the major economic categories, still comparing with the same month in the previous year, durable consume goods (-85.0%) and capital goods (-52.5%) reported, in April 2020, the highest decreases. The sectors of semi and non-durable consumer goods (-25.2%) and intermediate goods (-17.1%) also showed negative figures this month, however, both reported less intense drops than the national average (-27.2%). It is worth noting that those high negative results emphasize the expansion of interruptions that have occurred in several production plants, as a result of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The segment of durable consumer goods retreated 85.0% in April 2020 against April 2019, the third negative figure in a row in this comparison, and the biggest drop since the beginning of this time series. This month, the sector was particularly affected by the reduced production of cars (-99.9%). It is also worth to mention the negative results in white goods (-75.2%), brown goods (-49.4%), motorcycles (-98.8%) and in the group of furniture (-63.8%) and other household appliances (-58.9%).

The sector producing capital goods, with a decrease of 52.5% in the monthly index of April 2020, recorded the third consecutive negative rate in this type of comparison and the most significant one since the beginning of this time series. This month, the segment was influenced by the drop in the group of capital goods for transportation equipment (-82.9%), mainly due to the lower output of trucks, tractor trucks for trailers and semi-trailers, aircrafts, vehicles for transportation of goods, trailers and semi-trailers and vessels for transportation of people and cargo (including tankers and platforms).

The other negative rates were recorded by capital goods for industrial use (-41.5%), mixed use (-32.3%), agriculture (-34.2%), construction (-34.2%) and electricity (-7.0%).

The segment of semi and non-durable consumer goods, also in the comparison with the same month of the previous year, retreated 25.2% in April 2020, the fourth negative rate in a row in this type of comparison and the most significant one since the beginning of the time series. The performance this month was explained, mainly, by the falls in the semi-durable group (-65.2%) and in food and beverages for domestic consumption (-18.7%). It is also worth mentioning the negative results reported by fuels (-19.9%) and non-durable goods (-9.0%).

The output of intermediate goods fell 17.1% in April 2020, the second consecutive negative rate in this type of comparison and the most significant since February 2009 (-19.8%). This month’s result was due, especially, to the decreases in the products related to product activities of motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (-83.7%), basic metals (-33.7%), non-metallic mineral products (-36.2%), metal products (-37.7%), rubber and plastic products (-32.5%), other chemicals (-15.1%), machinery and equipment (-44.1%), textiles (-45.0%) and coke, petroleum products and biofuels (-5.2%). In turn, the positive pressures came from food products (26.1%), mining and quarrying industry (10.1%) and pulp, paper and paper products (0.2%).
Also regarding this category, it is also worth mentioning the negative results reported by the groups of typical inputs for civil construction (-33.7%) and of packaging (-11.1%), both recording the biggest drops since the beginning of the time series.

In the cumulative index for the January-April period of 2020, compared to the same period in the previous year, the industrial sector showed a decrease of 8.2%, with negative results in four out of the four major economic categories, 22 out of the 26 sectors, 61 out of the 79 groups and 71.2% of 805 products surveyed. Among the activities, motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (-32.1%) exerted the largest negative influence on the industry average, pressed, to a great extent, by the items cars, tractor trucks for trailers and semi-trailers, trucks, vehicles for transportation of goods and car pieces.

It is also worth mentioning the negative contributions of the sectors of basic metals (-10.3%), beverages (-15.3%), manufacture of wearing apparel and accessories (-26.1%), machinery and equipment (-10.8%), non-metallic mineral products (-12.7%), leather articles, travel articles and footwear (-25.8%), other transportation equipment (-30.7%), rubber and plastic products (-9.2%), metal products (-10.2%), computer equipment, electronic and optical products (-12.9%), mining and quarrying industry (-2.3%), electrical machinery and apparatuses (-10.6%), textiles (-14.5%) and furniture (-17.8%). On the other hand, among the four activities that showed expansion in the output, the main influences on the industry overall were came from coke, petroleum products and biofuels (5.7%) and food products (2.4%).

Among the major economic categories, the profile of results for the first four pressed months of 2020 showed less dynamism for durable consumer goods (-27.8%), affected, above all, by the decrease in car manufacturing (-38.9%). The sectors producing capital goods (-15.8%) and semi and non-durable consumer goods (-9.0%) also reported higher decreases than those recorded in the national average (-8.2%), while the intermediate goods sector (-4.4%) showed a moderately negative rate in the cumulative index in the year.