(Picture: Bruno Perez)
Economic Growth and Hot Weather Drive the Sector
Brazil has risen to the position of the second-largest global manufacturer of air conditioners in 2024, a feat driven by a combination of robust economic growth and increasingly frequent heatwaves. The electronics industry as a whole recorded a remarkable growth of 29% compared to the previous year, with 117.7 million units of various products, including refrigerators, televisions, fans, and filters, being sold. The data was released by the National Association of Manufacturers of Electronic Products (Eletros) this Monday (17th).
The standout was air conditioners, which reached a historical record of 5.9 million units produced. This volume represents a 38% increase compared to 2023, elevating Brazil from fifth to second place in the global ranking of manufacturers, behind only China.
Decisive Economic and Climate Factors
According to Jorge Nascimento, president of Eletros, two main factors contributed to this exceptional performance. The first is economic, marked by an increase in job creation, greater inflation control in the first half of 2024, and a reduction in interest rates for part of the year, which facilitated the purchase of products, usually acquired in installments. The second crucial factor was the climate, with rising temperatures leading the population to seek more comfort and well-being.
Nascimento made these statements after a meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice-President and Minister of Development, Industry and Trade, Geraldo Alckimin, and Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, at the Planalto Palace.
Brown and White Goods Sectors Also Stand Out
In addition to the success of air conditioners, the brown goods sector, which includes televisions, also had a notable year, with the highest production in the last 10 years and the second-highest in history, totaling 13.5 million units sold, a 22% increase compared to 2023. The white goods sector, comprising refrigerators, stoves, freezers, and washing machines, recorded a growth of 17% in 2024, with 15.6 million units, practically equaling pre-pandemic levels.
Sector Seeks Continuity of Favorable Economic Scenario
During the meeting with the president and ministers, industry representatives presented the impressive figures of the industry and requested the maintenance of an economic environment similar to the previous year.
“What we discussed now, including with Minister Haddad, is that it is important to have an economic environment that is still prosperous – we are talking about fiscal adjustment, inflation control, the issue of reference interest rates. If this is treated with the same care as it was in the first half of last year, we expect to at least repeat the numbers of 2024, in a more optimistic version, and grow by 10%,” projected Nascimento. Eletros brings together 36 companies, employs around 200,000 workers, and represents 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the national industry.
Vice-President Geraldo Alckimin also celebrated the results, highlighting that the 29% growth in a durable goods industry is an exceptional achievement in the current global scenario. He emphasized the importance of economic factors, such as the increase in employment and income, as well as government industrial policies, for this expansion.
Resumo em Português:
O Brasil alcançou a posição de segundo maior fabricante mundial de ar-condicionado em 2024, impulsionado pelo crescimento econômico e pelas ondas de calor. O setor de eletroeletrônicos cresceu 29%, com destaque para o aumento de 38% na produção de ar-condicionado. A linha marrom (televisores) também teve o melhor desempenho em 10 anos, e a linha branca (geladeiras, fogões, etc.) cresceu 17%. Empresários do setor se reuniram com o governo para apresentar os resultados e pedir a continuidade de um cenário econômico favorável.
Resumen en Español:
Brasil alcanzó la posición de segundo mayor fabricante mundial de aire acondicionado en 2024, impulsado por el crecimiento económico y las olas de calor. El sector de electroelectrónicos creció un 29%, destacándose el aumento del 38% en la producción de aire acondicionado. La línea marrón (televisores) también tuvo el mejor desempeño en 10 años, y la línea blanca (refrigeradores, estufas, etc.) creció un 17%. Empresarios del sector se reunieron con el gobierno para presentar los resultados y pedir la continuidad de un escenario económico favorable.
