In January 2026, industrial production in Brazil changed by 1.8% fom December, in the seasonally adjusted series, the highest figure since June 2024 (4.4%). Against January 2025, industry advanced 0.2%, and interrupted a period of three consecutive months with negative rates: December (-0.1%), November  (-1.4%) and October 2025 (-0.5%). The quarterly moving average was -0.1%.

Regarding the increase of industrial activity from December to January 2026, positive rates were widespread, being recorded by the four broad economic categories and most of (19) the 25 subsectors surveyed. It is worth mentioning that, with these results, industrial production is 1.8% above the pre-pandemic level (February 2020); but it is still 15.3% below the record level reached in May 2011.

Among the activities, the main positive contributions came from chemicals (6.2%), motor vehicles, trailers and trunks (6.3%) and coke, petroleum products and biofuels (2.0%), with the firts two ones interrupting two months of decrease, a period marked by drops of 8.3% and 10.5%, respectively; and the last one reaching a cumulative increase in production of 7.1% in two consecutive months.

Other positive contributions to the industry overall came from mining and quarrying industry (1.2%), basic metals (4.1%), electric machinery, appliances and equipment (6.5%), beverages (4.1%), metal products (2.3%) and optical electronic and computer equipment (3.3%).

On the other hand, among the six activities recording increase in production, machinery and equipment (-6.7%) accounted for the main influence of the average of industry and marked the second consecutive negative rate, with a cumulative loss of 11.8% in the period. Also worthy of mention are the negative impacts of food product sectors (-0.8%) and pulp, paper and paper products (-1.9%).

Among the broad economic categories, also against December, in the seasonally adjusted series, durable consumer goods (6.3%) had the highest positive rate in January 2026 and eliminated part of the cumulative 7.7% of the last two months of 2025. The sectors that produce capital goods (2.0%), intermediate goods (1.7%) and semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods (1.2%) also recorded increase this month, with the former interrupting two consecutive months of decrease,a period with a decrease of 7.9%; the second one increased again after a drop of 3.8% in the last four months of 2025; and the last one eliminating the decrease of 0.8% registered in December 2025.

Indicators of Industrial Production by Broad Economic Categories - January 2026

Quarterly moving average was -0.1% in the quarter ended January

Also in the seasonally adjusted series, the evolution of the quarterly moving average for the industry overall recorded a negative change (-0.1%) in the quarter ended January 2026 from the previous month and has been on a downward trend since October 2025.

Among the broad economic categories, also in relation to this marginal movement, capital goods (-2.1%) recorded the highest negative change in January 2026, after also decreasing in December 2025 (-2.5%). The producers of durable consumer goods (-0.7%) and of intermediate goods (-0.3%) also recorded negative results this month, with the former recording the third consecutive month of decrease and a cumulative reduction of 2.8% in the period; and the second one remaining on a downward trend since September 2025. On the other hand, the segment of semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods (0.3%) recorded the only positive result in January 2026 and has been on an upward trend since July 2025.

Against January 2025, industry advanced 0.2% 

Against the same month a year ago, the industrial sector increased 0.2% in January 2026, with positive results in 2 of the 4 broad economic categories, 8 of the 25 subsectors, 24 of the 80 groups and 37.9% of the  789 products surveyed. It is worth mentioning that January 2026 (21 days) had 1 business day less than in the previous month (22).

Among the activities, the main positive influences in the industry overall were registered by mining and quarrying industry (11.9%), pharmaceuticals (20.7%) and food products (2.0%).

On the other hand, also against January 2025, among the seventeen activities that recorded decreases in production, machinery and equipment (-15.4%), motor vehicles, trailers and trunks (-7.7%) and chemicals (-2.9%) accounted for the biggest increases in the average of industry.

Other important negative impacts were recorded by metal products (-5.2%), coke, petroleum products and biofuels (-1.2%), leather articles, travel articles and footwear (-9.9%), optical, electronic and computer products (-6.8%), printing and reproduction of recorded media (-19.7%), textiles (-7.6%), manufacture of wearing apparel and accessories (-5.8%), furniture (-6.9%) and basic metals (-1.5%).

Also against the same month a year ago, intermediate goods (1.2%) and semi-durable and non-durable goods (0.8%) recorded, in January 2026, positive rates among the broad economic categories. On the other hand, the segments of durable consumer goods (-4.0%) and capital goods (-11.8%) recorded drops in production this month.

Producers of intermediate goods, having advanced 1.2% in January 2026 from January 2025, interrupted two consecutive months of negative rates: December (-1.5%) and November 2025 (-1.3%). The production of semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods recorded an increase of 0.8% in January 2026 from the same month a year ago, second consecutive positive rate, below that of December 2025 (4.6%).

Also against the same month a year ago, durable consumer goods, having decreased by 4.0% in January 2026, recorded the third consecutive negative rate. The producers of capital goods, with a drop of 11.8%, recorded the eighth negative rate in a row and the most significant since December 2023 (-17.1%).

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