According to the data released by Brazil’s National Bureau of geographic Statistics (IBGE) on April 1 local time, Brazil’s industrial output value increased by 0.7% month on month in February. At present, the growth of Brazilian manufacturing industry is weak and the recovery is slowing down.

Data show that compared with January this year, 16 of the 26 industries surveyed in Brazil increased in February. Among them, the mining industry increased by 5.3%, reversing the unfavorable situation of falling by 5.1% due to heavy rainfall last month. In addition, the pharmaceutical and chemical products industry increased by 12.7% month on month, the beverage industry increased by 4.1% month on month, and the automobile manufacturing industry increased by 3.2% month on month. However, cellulose, paper and paper products fell 3.4% month on month, while coke, petroleum products and biofuels fell 1.8% month on month.

Among the major economic categories, capital goods increased by 1.9%, intermediate products by 1.6%, semi durable and non durable consumer goods by 1.5% and durable consumer goods by 0.5%.

Compared with the same period last year, Brazil’s industrial output value decreased by 4.3% year-on-year in February. Among them, the clothing and accessories industry decreased by 19.7% year-on-year, the rubber and plastic products industry decreased by 14.1% year-on-year, and the automobile manufacturing industry decreased by 10.7% year-on-year. However, the coke, petroleum products and biofuels industry increased by 6.9% year-on-year, and the food industry increased by 3.4% year-on-year.

The data also showed that in the first two months of this year, Brazil’s total industrial output value decreased by 5.8% year-on-year. In the 12 months to February this year, Brazil’s total industrial output value increased by 2.8%.

Andremacedo, a researcher of the National Bureau of geographical statistics of Brazil, said that the industrial growth in Brazil in February made up for part of the loss of the 2.2% decline in January this year, but the manufacturing output value of the country was still 2.6% lower than the level before the outbreak of COVID-19 in February 2020, 18.9% lower than the record level reached in May 2011. At present, Brazilian industry still faces many difficulties, such as shortage of raw materials, increased costs, shutdown, high interest rate and high inflation rate, which has a great impact on the recovery of the country’s manufacturing industry.