With the result for March, industrial activity ended the first quarter of 2009 with a reduction of 14.7% over the same period in 2008. When compared to the quarter immediately before, the rate was -7.9%. In the last two quarters, the accumulated loss for the sector was 16.7%, the highest since the second quarter of 1990 (-19.8%). Over the last 12 months, the accumulated variation is -1.9%.
According to figures disclosed this Tuesday, May 5, by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the growth verified in March reached 11 of the 27 activities researched. The highlight was the vehicle industry (7.0%), followed by the pharmaceutical industry (9.0%), other chemical products (3.5%), medical and hospital and optical instruments (20.8%) and mining activities (2.4%).
On the opposite lane, the main reductions were observed in the other transport equipment sector (-15.2%), electric machinery, equipment and material (-15.3%), machinery and equipment (-3.3%) and electronic material and communications equipment (-5.5%).
With regard to March 2008, in turn, the research shows that there was retraction in 20 of the 27 fields researched. The main negative pressures came from machinery and equipment (-27.2%), vehicles (-18.5%), basic metallurgy (-29.2%) and electronic material and equipment for communications (-38.9%). The IBGE study shows that this year the month of March had two working days more than in 2008.
ABr