Even in a pandemic year, the electronics industry managed to end 2020 with a 4% increase in its employment level, which went from 234 thousand in December 2019 to 243 thousand people at the end of this year. The information was released today by the Brazilian Association of the Electrical and Electronic Industry (Abinee), at its annual press conference.

The billing of the electronics industry should end 2020 at R $ 173.4 billion. Despite the nominal growth of 13% compared to 2019 (R $ 153 billion), the real increase was only 1%, since the sector's inflation, according to the Producer Price Index (IPP), closed the year in 12%.

Industrial production of electrical and electronic goods fell by 2% in 2020 compared to last year. Installed capacity utilization, on the other hand, dropped from 78% to 75% this year.

The stability in billing and a slight drop in production in the sector in 2020 repeats a performance similar to that of last year, when there was also no growth in these indicators.

Abinee's executive president, Humberto Barbato, notes that until May all indicators pointed to a drastic scenario in 2020, due to the pandemic, but the dynamism and resilience of the sector reversed the downward curve of the indicators. "Companies were able to quickly read the current scenario, adapting processes and production lines to the new reality," he says.

According to Barbato, in the scenario of restriction due to social isolation, technology goods and services, made available by the sector, have been essential to connect people, turn the economy around, keep companies active, enable entertainment, access to education, attend supply needs, in addition to optimizing and facilitating consumers' access to essential services.

The chairman of the Abinee Board of Directors, Irineu Govêa, observes that, even in such an extreme situation, the electronics sector has shown that it can resist the most adverse conditions, continuing the work and maintaining production in its factories adapting it. to the new reality in order to bring protection to workers. "Programs such as emergency aid, maintenance of jobs and income and other initiatives have made it possible to minimize the impact of the crisis for those who do not have the economic conditions to remain in the pandemic," he says.

Trade balance 

Exports contributed little to the revenue of the electronics industry, with a 21% drop in 2020, from US $ 5.6 billion to US $ 4.4 billion. Imports, meanwhile, fell 10%, from $ 32 billion in 2019, to $ 28.9 billion this year.

As a result, the trade deficit is expected to reach US $ 24.5 billion, a total 8% lower than that presented in 2019 (US $ 26.5 billion).

Perspectives 

For 2021, businessmen in the sector have favorable expectations. The most recent survey conducted with Abinee associates indicated that 75% of companies project growth in sales / orders in the next year; 22%, stability and only 3%, drop. The last Electro-Electronic Sector Confidence Index (ICEI) released by Abinee, in November, also reached 62.9 points. Above 50 points, the ICEI indicates entrepreneur confidence. "We are closing 2020 with a positive Confidence Index and higher than last year", observes Barbato.

In November 2019, ICEI had reached 61 points. Considering the projection of GDP growth of 3.5% and inflation of around 3.3% per year in 2021, the electronics sector expects a nominal growth of 12% and real (discounting inflation) of 7% in revenues, which should reach R $ 194 billion. Abinee also projects an increase of 6% in production and an increase of 3% in the level of employment, which should increase from 243 thousand to 249.5 thousand workers. Exports are expected to grow 7% (US $ 4.7 billion) and imports, 10% (US $ 31.6 billion).

For 2021, businessmen in the sector have favorable expectations. The most recent survey conducted with Abinee associates indicated that 75% of companies project growth in sales / orders in the next year; 22%, stability and only 3%, drop.

The last Electro-Electronic Sector Confidence Index (ICEI) released by Abinee, in November, also reached 62.9 points. Above 50 points, the ICEI indicates entrepreneur confidence. "We are closing 2020 with a positive Confidence Index and higher than last year", observes Barbato. In November 2019, ICEI had reached 61 points.

Considering the projection of GDP growth of 3.5% and inflation of around 3.3% per year in 2021, the electronics sector expects a nominal growth of 12% and real (discounting inflation) of 7% in revenues, which should reach R $ 194 billion.

Abinee also projects an increase of 6% in production and an increase of 3% in the level of employment, which should increase from 243 thousand to 249.5 thousand workers. Exports are expected to grow 7% (US $ 4.7 billion) and imports, 10% (US $ 31.6 billion).