Brazil's national statistics agency (IBGE) has reported that in January this year industrial production in the largest Latin American country increased by 2.9 percent compared to December and was down 2.4 percent from January 2013. In December last year, industrial output in Brazil had decreased by 3.7 percent month on month.

Meanwhile, in January of the current year, Brazil's basic metal output increased by 2.8 percent month on month and decreased by 3.1 percent compared to January 2013.