2026.03.0612:13:45UTC+00Brazil’s Industrial Output Hits Highest Since June 2024

Brazil’s industrial production increased 1.8% month-on-month in January 2026, the strongest rise since June 2024 and well above the 0.7% market forecast. Output now stands 1.8% above the pre-pandemic level of February 2020, though it remains 15.3% below the peak reached in May 2011.

The expansion was broad-based, spanning all four major use categories and 19 of the 25 industrial sectors surveyed. Among the highlights, production of chemical products grew 6.2%; motor vehicles, trailers, and bodies advanced 6.3%; and coke, petroleum derivatives, and biofuels increased 2.0%. Extractive industries rose 1.2%, metallurgy 4.1%, machinery, equipment, and electrical materials 6.5%, beverages 4.1%, metal products 2.3%, and computer, electronic, and optical equipment 3.3%.

In contrast, output of machinery and equipment declined 6.7%, marking a second consecutive monthly drop and exerting the main downward influence on overall production.

By major economic category, durable consumer goods rose 6.3%, capital goods 2.0%, intermediate goods 1.7%, and semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods 1.2%.