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 Brazil's vehicle sector has broken production and export records in the first half of this year.
From January to June, vehicle and automatic agricultural machinery (tractor and harvester) foreign sales total led US$ 5.07 billion, which represents a growth of 36.6% in comparison to the same period last year. According to the president of the National Association of Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea), Rogélio Golfarb, the good performance of foreign sales stimulated the increase in production. If only vehicles, light trucks, trucks and buses are considered, production in the first six months of the year reached 1.202 million units, which corresponds to an increase of 15.7% in relation to the same period last year. The Anfavea estimates for 2005 are that production should reach 2.3 million units, a number that, if confirmed, will represent growth of 5.4% in comparison to last year. With regard to exports, sales total led 394,857 cars, light commercial trucks, trucks and buses in the first half. Excluding agricultural machinery, the growth in shipping total led 41.7%. Exports total led 370,826 light vehicles (cars and light commercial trucks), 15,176 trucks and 8,855 buses. According to Anfavea information, even with the appreciation of the Brazilian real against the United States dollar, exports continue growing, mainly due to the fact that the carmakers have long term supply contracts. Anfavea perspectives are for exports in 2005 to reach US$ 8.9 billion, an increase of 7% against the figure for last year. However, Golfarb stated that the forecast for the first half was exceeded, and it is therefore necessary to wait to announce new estimates. Month In June, the performance was also record. The growth in foreign sales of vehicles and agricultural machinery was 41.8% in relation to the same period last year, which represented exports of 77,822 units, which generated US$ 989.8 million. In the month, production total led 215,748 vehicles, representing an increase of 15.3% in relation to June 2004. With regard to the production of agricultural machinery, there has been a 9.1% drop in comparison to the same period last year. Among the main Brazilian vehicle import markets are the United States, Mexico, South America and the European Union. Domestic Market Sales of light vehicles, trucks and buses in Brazil in the month also rose, having grown 13.6% in relation to the same month in 2004. Vehicle sales total led 148,491 new national and imported vehicles. In the first half of the year, a total of 800,128 vehicles were licensed, representing an increase of 10.7% in comparison to the first half of last year. The Anfavea estimate is that sales on the domestic market should reach 1.64 million vehicles, an increase of 4% over the sales in 2004. ANBA - www.anba.com.br
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