According to a recent survey by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), only five out of fifteen areas surveyed have industrial operations surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
The national average in June was 1.4% below the February 2020 figures, considered the pre-pandemic benchmark.
Mato Grosso led the way with its industrial production at 23.8% above pre-pandemic levels.
It was followed by Minas Gerais (7.9%), Amazonas (6.9%), Rio de Janeiro (5.4%), and Santa Catarina (1%).
Notably, the number of areas operating above the February 2020 level dropped from seven in May to five in June.
Conversely, ten of the fifteen surveyed areas in June were below the pre-pandemic production level.
Bahia registered the most significant decline, with a 20.8% decrease from February 2020, trailed by Ceará at 20.3% and the Northeast region at 18.3%.
Bahia’s decline was impacted by the closure of Ford’s plant in Camaçari, and negotiations are currently underway for the Chinese automaker BYD to possibly occupy the location.