Cristiane Ribeiro
Reporter Agência Brasil

Rio - According to the statistical bureau's April industrial sector survey (Pesquisa Industrial Mensal do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) (IBGE), output was up in 12 out of the 14 states surveyed, compared to April 2004. Out of 20 economic segments surveyed, 17 showed an increase in output. The survey also found that in seven states industrial output was higher than the national average, which was 6.3%. The highest growth was in Amazonas (21.8%). Only two states had negative growth: Pernambuco (-1.5%_ and Rio Grande do Sul (-3.9%).

In an explanatory note the IBGE reports that growth was boosted by strong performances in the electronic and communications equipment sectors. For example, cell phone production in the "zona franca" of Manaus, Amazonas, rose 36.7%.

The São Paulo auto sector also turned in a stellar performance with production up 7%, most of it for export (the state of São Paulo makes 40% of all Brazilian vehicles).

There were also sharp rises in production in the pharmaceutical sector (up 20.5%) and machinery and equipment (up12.4%).

This was the 18th consecutive IBGE survey that has registered growth in industrial production.

Translator: Allen Bennett