InterviewBrazil’s PVC sales could grow by 5% in 2009

17 April 2009 22:50  [Source: ICIS news]

By Hellen Berger

SAO PAULO (ICIS news)--Brazilian sales of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) could grow by 5% in 2009 if government projects related to infrastructure development move forward as expected, an industry official said on Friday.     

“A 5% growth is an optimistic scenario reached if the [local] government takes forward infrastructure projects as planned, such as the construction of 1m low-income homes and improvements for the 2014 World Cup [soccer],” said Miguel Bahiense Neto, executive director of Brazil’s PVC Institute.      

Bahiense Neto said the construction of 1m houses can be considered significant as Brazil lacks 8m low-income homes. He added that infrastructure measures would also increase PVC sales by increasing demand for the product.

“Brazil’s PVC industry is optimistic, as the government has shown interest in keeping up the developments planned,” said Neto in Portuguese.      

“But if sales of PVC reach a 2-3% growth this year - which is a very realistic goal – it will already be a positive result, considering the impact of the global crisis,” he added.

Neto said the PVC industry is improving its capacity for meeting demand and getting ready for the positive scenario.

Last year, PVC sales grew 27% compared with the previous year on strong demand from the construction sector (over 1m tonnes), according to the Brazilian Chemical Industry Association (Abiquim).  

The increase in 2008 was due to stronger-than-expected imports, but the industry expected imports to fall in 2009, according to Bahiense Neto.

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By: Hellen Berger
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