Brazilian Composites Sector Reports 11% First Quarter Increase

The Brazilian composites sector has reported revenue totalling US$ 385 million in the first quarter of 2014, 11.2% higher than in the same period of the previous year and 0.5% higher than the result of the last quarter of 2013.

From January to March this year, 53,700 tons of composites were produced in the country, a volume that is 8% higher than in the first quarter of 2013, but 1.2% lower than the amount processed between last October and December.

Gilmar Lima, president of ALMACO said;

This reduction is a consequence of the slowdown experienced by virtually all segments in which composite moulders operate, such as the transportation, road equipment, agribusiness and marine segments. The only segments that have managed to remain stable are the wind and construction

In 2013, the construction sector led the Brazilian consumption of polyester composites, with 49% of the total processed, ahead of transportation (17%), corrosion (11%) and sewage treatment (6%) – totalled 154,000 tons. The applications in wind power, which use composites based on epoxy resins, consumed 56,000 tons.

For 2014 a 5.1% revenue increase of the sector represented by ALMACO, totaling US$ 1,550 billion is expected, with production reaching 212,000 tons (+1.1%).