Direct foreign investment in Brazil in 2004 totaled almost US$ 18.2 billion, an increase of 79% over 2003. That put the country in 10th place worldwide as a receptor of direct foreign investments, up from 15th place in 2003. Among developing nations, Brazil was in third place, behind China and Hong Kong.
In Latin America, Brazil was the number one direct foreign investment destination, accounting for 27% of all such investments in the region, followed by Mexico (25%) and Chile (11%).
The biggest investors in Brazil in 2004 were Holland (US$ 6.7 billion) and the US (US$ 2 billion).Most of the investments went to the food and beverages, and auto, industries, followed by the services sector.
Consumer Confidence
The latest (22nd) Getúlio Vargas Foundation survey of Brazilian consumer confidence shows that it improved, compared to August, in five out of the eight areas rated. Interviewees were more optimistic, and less pessimistic, about the economic situation of the country and their families, for example. But there was an increase in the number who said they were going into debt (31.9%, compared to 28.3% in August).
The survey interviewed 1,451 household heads in Brazil’s 12 biggest cities between September 2 and 22.
ABr