According to the latest survey conducted by Maxiquim, a consulting firm hired by the Latin American Composite Materials Association (ALMACO) the revenue of the Brazilian composites industry is expected to exceed US$ 1.5 billion. Revenue in 2012 should total US$ 1.539 billion, 7.9% higher in comparison with the previous year.
The consumption of raw materials, however, should be 0.7% lower. According to the survey, 207,000 tons of composite materials will be processed in 2012. The gap between the two indicators was driven by the growth in higher value-added applications, inventory reduction of moulders in the first months of the year and the continuous increase in the costs of raw materials.
In the third quarter, the companies represented by ALMACO earned US$ 396,5 million, 3.1% higher than in the previous three months and 11.2% higher in comparison with the same period in 2011. The consumption of raw materials between July and September totaled 51,300 tons, a volume 1.5% higher than the previous quarter but 7.9% lower than the third quarter last year.
Gilmar Lima, president of ALMACO said;
The revenue will be basically guaranteed by the composite applications linked to government programs such as poles for the new power grids of Luz para Todos, modular houses for Minha Casa, Minha Vida and bus parts for Caminho da Escola
He also highlights the influence of the agricultural implements and wind power generation markets in the sector’s balance.
In 2011, construction led the Brazilian consumption of composites with 45% of the total processed, ahead of transportation (18%), corrosion (12%) and sanitation (7%). The applications in wind power – which use composites based on epoxy resins – consumed 44,700 tons and generated a turnover of US$ 312,5 million.
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