| Fired by its huge domestic market, Brazil's | | | | for construction materials in Brazil. Production of |
| industrial sector has just achieved its biggest drive | | | | construction materials went up almost 200% |
| since 2003. This together with 2% GDP growth in | | | | (196.9%) in the 12 months between February |
| Q4 last year and the current big interest in Brazil | | | | 2009 and February 2010. With one million homes |
| equities and Brazil real estate bring Brazil to the | | | | due to be built in the low-cost property sector in |
| forefront of the world stage. Not for nothing is | | | | Brazil by the end of this year, production of |
| Brazil expected to achieve one of the highest | | | | building materials will need to continue to rise to |
| GDP growth figures in the world this year. | | | | keep up with demand. |
| According to statistics released this week by the | | | | Sectors related to construction materials in Brazil |
| Brazilian Statistical Institute (IBGE), monthly | | | | also experienced important increases. The |
| industrial production in Brazil was up 1.5% in | | | | metallurgy sector - Brazil is a major producer of |
| February. The highest increases came in the | | | | steel - raised production by 35.9%. The mining and |
| editing and printing sector, which almost doubled | | | | quarrying industries, which include the extraction |
| its production with a 97% hike; the pharmaceutical | | | | of materials such as sand and gravel for |
| industry - currently in the spotlight for investment | | | | construction, increased their output by over 20%. |
| in Brazil - where production grew by 15.9%; and | | | | Like many emerging markets such as China and |
| office and computer equipment with a rise of | | | | India, Brazil has a fast-growing middle class. This |
| 15%. | | | | middle class enjoys increased purchasing power |
| Year-on-year figures are even more impressive. | | | | and is hungry for consumer goods. In Brazil, this |
| In February, industrial production rose by 18.4%. | | | | desire to own material goods is reflected in the |
| Compared with February 2009, 24 out of the 27 | | | | rise of the production of consumer items since |
| subsectors of industrial production improved their | | | | February last year. Car manufacturing grew by |
| output. Within these subsectors, IBGE examines | | | | 20% - Brazil is one of the few countries in the |
| production figures for 755 products. 72% of | | | | world to experience a booming automobile |
| these products increased their output since | | | | industry - and the production of household |
| February 2009, the biggest drive in the industrial | | | | appliances went up by nearly 25% for white |
| sector in Brazil since 2003. | | | | goods and by over 44% for televisions and |
| Two areas within the industrial sector appear as | | | | DVDs. |
| highlights: capital goods and consumer goods. | | | | Brazil's latest industrial production figures further |
| These two areas have seen massive hikes in | | | | confirm the potential behind investing in Brazil. As |
| production over the last year in Brazil, particularly | | | | well as being on the brink of an unprecedented |
| construction materials and household appliances. | | | | boom in construction and real estate, Brazil has |
| Brazil is currently undergoing an unparalleled | | | | numerous advantages. These include an economy |
| construction boom, driven by major investment | | | | that stood firm during the global recession, a |
| for the World Cup and Olympics, and a booming | | | | booming domestic market and a vast supply of |
| real estate sector - Brazil will build at least 13.7 | | | | natural resources. Put all this together and Brazil |
| million properties by 2016. | | | | undoubtedly offers some of the best investment |
| It therefore follows that there is huge demand | | | | opportunities available at the moment. |