Released on September 29, 2009

A spokesperson for the Brazilian metalcasting industry said that due to the strength of the country’s currency relative to others, its focus in the near future will be on domestic production, rather than exports.

“Exports will always be a delicious dish for any country,” said Remo de Simone, a director of the Brazilian Foundry Association (ABIFA), through a translator. “But within the next years, the big focus on production is the national market. The biggest consumer for the Brazilian metalcaster is Brazil itself.”

During a press conference for FENAF 2009, a Latin American metalcasting industry conference, ABIFA President Devanir Brichesi said that the Brazilian economy will be stimulated in the coming years, and that at least some of that stimulus spending will benefit the metalcasting industry itself.

“I believe that within the next few years, about a hundred million dollars will be invested in the industry directly,” Brichesi said, also speaking through a translator. “I’m not talking about infrastructure, just the production.”

The press conference was held the afternoon of Sept. 22 during the metalcasting exposition in Sao Paulo to discuss the state of the Brazilian metalcasting industry. In addition to the prospects for the country’s exports, the industry spokespeople discussed the state of the domestic automotive market and quality issues associated with Brazilian castings.