After cars and motorcycles, bicycle production also plummets under Temer.
Bicycle production in Brazil fell 11,5% in 2016 compared to 2015; according to a survey released by Abraciclo, the manufacturers' association, 669.729 units were produced compared to 757.045 in the previous year; the vice-president of the association's Bicycle segment, João Ludgero, attributes the drop to "difficulties in the national economic context"; in 2016, in addition to bicycle production, the economic depression caused by Michel Temer and Henrique Meirelles also caused a drop in automobile production by 11,2%, and motorcycle production by 30%.
Flávia Albuquerque, from Agência Brasil - Bicycle production in the country fell 11,5% in 2016 compared to 2015. A total of 669.729 units were produced, compared to 757.045 in the previous year, according to data from the Brazilian Association of Manufacturers of Motorcycles, Mopeds, Scooters, Bicycles and Similar Vehicles (Abraciclo).
According to the vice-president of the Bicycle segment of the organization, João Ludgero, the drop is due to "difficulties in the national economic context" in 2016. Despite the result, for 2017, the sector expects recovery and projects growth of 19%.
"Optimism regarding improvements in the country's economy and political stability contributes to predicting a recovery in volumes in the sector in 2017," Ludgero assessed, according to a statement released by Abraciclo.
In December, the drop in production reached 77,9% compared to November, with 15.245 bicycles produced versus 68.850 that left the factories the previous month. In general, the result for the last month of the year is influenced by the collective vacations of the industry workers.
Trade balance
In 2016, bicycle exports totaled 8.423 units, 27,4% more than in 2015. According to Abraciclo, the three main destinations for Brazilian bicycles in 2016 were Paraguay, with 4.192 units; Bolivia, with 2.962 units; and Uruguay, with 778.
Imports, on the other hand, fell by 44,4%, with 135.153 bicycles purchased from other countries last year. The three main suppliers of these products to the Brazilian market in 2016 were China, with 115.841 units; Taiwan, with 11.013 units; and Portugal, with 3.918 bicycles.
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