Net sales in the machinery and equipment industry rose 6.4% in October versus the same period last year, to R$26.3 billion, driven by the improvement in exports and sales in the domestic market.
The result is the first positive after 28 consecutive months of year-on-year declines, said the association that represents the sector, Abimaq, in a presentation this Wednesday (27).
Considering only sales in the domestic market, the industry’s net revenue grew 6.5% on an annual basis, to R$18.4 billion. Compared to September, both total revenue (+11.3%) and internal revenue (+12%) increased.
The sector’s exports remained almost stable year on year, with a negative variation of 0.6%, at US$ 1.4 billion. Imports rose 32.4% on the same basis, to US$ 2.7 billion, according to data from Abimaq.
The apparent consumption of machines, which takes into account equipment produced in the country and imported, was 21.6% higher in October compared to the same month in 2023.
The improvement in sales revenue helped to maintain the use of installed capacity at a level higher than that observed last year, with the sector ending October with utilization of 76.1%, versus 75.9% in the same period in 2023.
The order book, measured in weeks for fulfillment, fell 3.3% compared to October of the previous year, but the entity highlighted that the result was not homogeneous, and that sectors such as producers of machines for the processing and basic industries had expansion in orders.
