In April 2021, the national industrial production fell 1.3% compared to March 2021 (seasonally adjusted series) - the third fall in a row, with a loss of 4.4% in the period. In relation to April 2020, the industry increased 34.7%, the eighth positive rate in a row in this comparison and the highest one in the time series, started in January 2002. The industry accumulates a 10.5% rise in the year, increasing its high compared to the last four months of 2020 (3.5%). The cumulative index in twelve months is positive again (1.1%) after 22 negative rates.

In comparison with the previous month, the drop of 1.3% in April 2021 was the third fall in a row in the industrial activity, accumulating a decrease of 4.4% in the period. Production dropped in two out of the four major economic categories and in 18 out of the 26 sectors surveyed.

Food, petroleum derivatives and biofuels drive drop against March

Among the activities, in comparison with the previous month, the most relevant negative influences came from coke, petroleum derivatives and biofuels (-9.5%), which has dropped again after interrupting in March (1.9%) a cycle of five negative results, and from food products (-3.4%), which eliminated the 3.3% gain accrued in the first three months of the year. 

Other negative contributions came from printing and reproduction of recorded media (-34.8%), of metal products (-4.0%), of leather, travel goods and footwear (-8.9%), pulp, paper and paper products (-2.6%), wearing apparel and accessories (-5.2%), textiles (-5.4%) and from furniture (-6.5%).

Among the activities on the rise, the highlights were mining and quarrying industries (1.6%), with tow months in a row of expansion accumulating a 7.4% gain, machinery and equipment (2.6%), which went back to growth after a 0.8% retreat in March and motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (1.4%), which interrupted three months of decrease, accumulating reduction of 16.6%.

Among the major economic categories, over March 2021, the negative rates were recorded in semi- and non- durable consumer goods (-0.9%), for the third month in a row and accumulating a retreat of 11.7%, and intermediate goods (-0.8%), eliminating the 0.4% gain accrued in February and March 2021.

On the other hand, there were highs in capital goods (2.9%), which offset part of the 10.4% retreat accrued from February to March and, also in durable consumer goods (1.6%), which interrupted three months of decrease, with cumulative loss of 12.3%.

Moving average falls 1.5% in quarter ended in April

in the seasonally adjusted series, the quarterly moving average fell 1.5% in the quarter ended in April 2021 over the previous month, sharpening the drop of last March (-1.0%), when the highs begun in June 2020 were stopped.

Among the major economic categories, semi- and non- durable consumer goods (-4.0%) recorded the sharpest decrease in the month intensifying the previous month's drop (-3.1%), which interrupted a sequence of positive results started in June 2020.

The segment of durable consumer goods (-3.2%), of capital goods (-2.7%) and of intermediate goods (-0.1%) also retreated in April 2021, with the former marking the third negative rate in a row  and accumulating a reduction of 8.8%; and the last two in the second decrease in a row, with losses of 4.6% and 0.3%, respectively.

April 2021 was the biggest of the series, in comparison with the same month a year ago

Compared to April 2020, the general industry advances 34.7% in April 2021, its highest rate in the series started in January 2002. There were highs in the four major economic categories, 23 out of the 26 sectors, 67 out of the 79 groups and 76.0% of the 805 products surveyed. April 2021 (20 days) had the same number of business days as the same month of 2020. But the high positive results show the low comparison base, since in April 2020, the industrial sector dropped 27.7% (the sharpest decrease in the series), influenced by the increasing stoppages in several industrial plants due to the pandemic.

Among the activities, the main influences in the industry's total came from Motor Vehicles, trailers and bodies (996.5%), machinery and equipment (94.3%), basic metals (54.5%), non-metallic mineral products (81.3%), beverages (88.2%) and rubber and plastic (64.0%).

Other important positive impacts came from metal products (60.0%), Electrical Machinery and Apparatus (79.2%), wearing apparel and accessories (122.2%), chemicals (18.4%), other transportation equipment (376.3%), textiles (104.3%), computer, electronic and optical products (57.0%), de leather, travel goods and footwear (129.5%) and coke, petroleum products and biofuels (6.3%). On the other hand, among the three activities decreasing, the sharpest negative influence came from food products (-9.1%).

Among the major economic categories, durable consumer goods (431.7%) and capital goods (124.9%) recorded the highest increases in this comparison. Intermediate goods (25.7%) and semi- and non-durable consumer goods (17.0%) also registered expansion, but they were below the industry average (34.7%).

The segment of  durable consumer goods  advanced 431.7% in April 2021 against the same period a year ago, the second consecutive positive rate in this kind of comparison and the highest one since the beginning of the time series. This month, the sector was particularly leveraged by the expansion in the manufacture of cars (69,956.5%), motorcycles (11,214.0%) and white goods (364.8%). It is worth highlighting the positive results of the brown goods (62.3%), other house appliances (138.5%) and furniture (145.0%).

The segment of capital goods grew 124.9% against April 2020, the eight high in a row and the highest in rate in the time series. All groups grew, with a highlight to transportation equipment (499.4%) due to the greater manufacture of trucks, tractor trucks for trailers and semi-trailers, vehicles for the transportation of goods and trailers and semi-trailers. The other highs were registered by capital goods for industrial purposes (63.7%), for agricultural purposes (152.0%), for construction purposes (100.5%), for miscellaneous purposes (30.1%) and electricity (8.0%).

The production of intermediate goods grew 25.7%, the tenth consecutive positive rate in this comparison and the highest since the beginning of the time series. The result is mainly due to increases in the activities of motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (418.7%), basic metals (54.5%), non-metallic mineral products (81.0%), rubber products and plastic material (62.4%), metal products (67.1%), machinery and equipment (95.3%), textiles (93.1%), and other chemicals (18 .5%). The only negative pressure came from food products (-19.2%).

The production of semi- and non-durable consumer goods increased 17.0% in April, compared to the same period in 2020, the second consecutive positive rate in this comparison and also the highest since the beginning of the time series. The groups of semi-durables (115.2%) and food and beverages for household consumption (14.3%) pulled the high.

In the year, there were increases in all major categories

In the cumulative index for January-April 2021, compared to the same period of the previous year, the industry grew 10.5%, with hikes in all major economic categories, 20 of 26 sectors, 65 of 79 groups and 71.6% of 805 products surveyed.

Among the activities, motor vehicles, trailers and bodies (34.4%), machinery and equipment (33.9%), basic metals (16.9%) and non-metallic mineral products (28.8%) exerted the highest positive influences. Other positive contributions came from rubber products and plastic material (21.9%), metal products (24.8%), electrical machinery, equipment and material (24.1%), other chemicals (9.3%) , beverages (13.6%), textiles (30.9%), wearing apparel and accessories (27.6%), leather, travel goods and footwear (22.2%), wood products ( 22.3%) and furniture (27.3%).

On the other hand, among the six activities that showed reduction in production, the main influence on the total of industry was registered by food products (-5.2%).

Among the major economic categories, capital goods (36.4%) and durable consumer goods (24.1%) were the main increases. The segments of intermediate goods (9.1%) and semi- and non-durable consumer goods (4.6%) also registered growth in the first four months of the year, but both below the industry average (10.5%).

1st quadrimester of the year sharpens pace compared to last quadrimester of 2020

The industrial sector advanced 10.5% in the first four months of 2021, compared to the same period of the previous year, accelerating the pace of expansion compared to the last four months of 2020 (3.5%), which interrupted the series of falls started in the last four months of 2018 (-1.6%).

This increase in production is due to the gain in pace in the four economic categories, especially capital goods (from 10.8% to 36.4%) and durable consumer goods (from 1.5% to 24.1% ), driven by capital goods for transportation equipment (from 2.1% to 50.0%), in the first; and cars (from -10.2% to 23.2%), in the second.

The sectors of semi- and non-durable consumer goods (from -0.4% to 4.6%) and intermediate goods (from 5.2% to 9.1%) also accelerated between the two periods.