Brazilian Imports of Chemicals Grow 52% in First Half

Brazil's production of chemical products for industrial use rose 17.83% last month, according to figures disclosed August 27 by the Brazilian Chemical Industry Association (Abiquim). According to the organization, part of this growth is due to the low base for comparison registered in June due to a maintenance stop at Camaçari Petrochemical Hub, in Bahia.

Between January and July, according to Abiquim, production has fallen 4.76% in comparison with the same period last year. Apart from Camaçari, there was also a stop for maintenance at Triunfo petrochemical center, in Rio Grande do Sul, in the same period.

The level of use of the sector's installed capacity was 88% in July, against 77% in June. In the accumulated result for the year, the average is at 83%, against 85% in the first seven months of 2007.

Sales on the domestic market, always according to the organization, grew 4.61% in July and 0.49% in the first seven months of the year.

Brazilian imports of chemical products totaled US$ 19 billion from January to July, an increase of 52% over the same period last year. Exports, in turn, were US$ 6.8 billion, growth of 12% in the same comparison.

Anba