Rio Grande do Sul state, in the south tip of Brazil, had a 60% growth in imports in the fist seven months of the year, in comparison with the same period in 2007. The value reached US$ 8.1 billion. The results were disclosed by the president at the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Fiergs), Paulo Tigre.
According to Tigre, the heated industrial activity reflected in demand for inputs, especially from Argentina, and also in the purchase of machinery and equipment.
"The increase of income of families and the appreciated exchange also stimulated purchases of consumer goods," he said.
Exports from the state of Rio Grande do Sul grew 25%, reaching US$ 10.7 billion. The industrial sector was responsible for 83% of sales.
Most of the purchases in the industrial sector were for chemical products, especially urea and naphtha for the petrochemical industry, with growth of 98% over the result for 2007, reaching US$ 1.5 billion this year.
The hydrocarbon (crude oil) and machinery and equipment (tractors and agricultural machinery) sectors followed the tendency, growing 84%, accumulating US$ 2.9 billion and US$ 679 million respectively.
Foreign Market
Rio Grande do Sul state foreign sales from January to July grew 19% and reached US$ 8.5 billion. Food and drink, which answered to 26% of the export basket of Rio Grande do Sul expanded 56% (US$ 933 million), especially soy oil and raw chicken, followed by machinery and equipment, with growth of 37%.
In the analysis for the month of July, imports and exports from the state also grew. Purchases rose 42% (US$ 1.15 billion). With regard to sales, however, the evolution reached 11% (US$ 1.8 billion). The main destinations were China, Argentina and the United States. The Chinese received 26.5% of products shipped by the state.
Rio Grande do Sul is currently in the third position among the exporters, answering to 9.2% of Brazilian sales in the first seven months of the year. In the first place came São Paulo (29.6%), followed by Minas Gerais (11.9%).
CNI
