Elisângela Cordeiro
Reporter - Agência Brasil

São Paulo - The automobile industry set production and export records for the month of April. Foreign sales brought in US$ 881.9 million last month, 37.4% more than in April, 2004. Vehicle production, driven by exports, reached 203.4 thousand units, 19.7% more than in April, 2004. These data were announced by the National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea).

Anfavea president Rogélio Golfarb said that the depreciation of the dollar against the real did not reduce export volume, because the factories are filling old orders, but he pointed out that the profit margen has already declined.

The production of 771.4 thousand units in the first four months of the year is also considered a record for this period of the year. This year's mark is 14.7% greater than during the same period in 2004. Exports by the sector totaled US$ 3.18 billion between January and April, 35.9% more than in the same period last year.

Translation: David Silberstein