Revenues of the Brazilian copper industry have risen threefold since 2003. The figures were collected by Brazil's Union of Electric Wire, Filament and Non-Ferrous Metal Lamination Industries of the State of São Paulo (Sindicel), together with the Brazilian Copper Association (ABC).
The sector's revenues rose from US$ 1.9 billion in 2003 to US$ 4.8 billion in 2006. In terms of volume, and production, there was also growth, but just 20%, from 536,000 tons to 653,000 tons. Copper had a significant price increase over the period. The average value per ton rose from US$ 1,800 to US$ 6,700, almost four times more.
The price increase powered the value of exports. Foreign sales totaled US$ 352 million in 2003 and reached US$ 1.4 billion last year.
Imports grew even more, resulting in a trade deficit of US$ 556 million, caused by imports of refined copper. The trade balance of wires and cables and semi-manufactured products presented a positive balance for Brazil.
Corrugated Cardboard
Sales of corrugated cardboard, one of the products most widely used for industrial packing, grew by 1.3% in August of this year, compared with the same month of 2006. They stood at 191,100 tons in August this year, over 88,600 tons in August last year.
Accumulated sales by the sector this year until August total 1,508.7 million tons, representing a 5.3% increase over the same period of 2006, when the sector sold 1,433.2 million tons of corrugated cardboard.
"Our sales until the month of August are in keeping with the sector's new growth forecasts for this year – 5% to 6%," says Paulo Sérgio Peres, president at the Brazilian Association of Corrugated Cardboard (ABPO), in a press release issued by the organization.
Anba
