São Paulo, 5/12/2004 (Agência Brasil) - Vehicle production in Brazil was down 11.3% in April, compared to March. However, production for the first four months of the year is running a strong 13.4% above the same period last year.

The automaker association (Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores)(Anfavea), which released the April numbers, also reports that the number of new job openings was 0.6% more than workers laid off during the period.

Sales of vehicles in April, compared to March, also showed a sharp downturn (down 21.9%). However, sales were up 11%, compared to April 2003. And for the first four months of the year, sales are running 17.8% above sales during the same period last year.

The bright spot in the sector continues to be farm machinery. Sales in that sector were up 10.7% in April, compared to March.

Translator: Allen Bennett