Brazil's industrial production in June recorded a lower-than-expected increase from May of 0.2 percent. However, even though the expected production growth for June was 0.35 percent, June was the sixth consecutive in which Brazilian industrial production increased, announced the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) on Monday.
June's industrial production was 10.9 percent lower than last year's figures. For the first six months of the year, Brazilian production contracted 13.4 percent compared to the same period of last year, which IBGE noted as the worse drop since it started collecting data back in 1975.
Brazilian industrial production increased from May to June in 13 of the 27 evaluated sectors, particularly in the mining industry, which rose 5.3 percent, and in the auto industry, which recorded a 2.6 percent hike. Basic metal processing was up two percent in June from May.
Compared to June of last year, 22 out of the 27 evaluated sectors dropped, especially the auto industry and machinery and equipment with respective declines of -18.9 and -27.4 percent.
Brazil's July trade figures, also released Monday, show a continued recovery in exports, led by the mining sector, particularly for iron ore. Brazil's July exports totaling US$14.14 billion compare to the $9.78 billion worth of exports in the first month of this year.