Brazil Copper Processors Shed Nearly 3% of Work Force in 1st Half -Sindicel

RIO DE JANEIRO--Brazil's copper products industry shed nearly 3% of its work force during the first half of 2012, amid international market turbulence and competition from imports, Brazilian copper producer association Sindicel said Tuesday.

Job numbers in copper processing were reduced by 499 to 17,795 during the period, Sindicel said in a statement. Job losses were greatest in the wire and cables sector, which accounted for 460 of the total, it said. This sector provides raw materials for electrical energy projects and the building industry.

In line with other Brazilian industrial sectors, copper processors have been feeling the effects of the international financial crisis and facing difficulties in competing with other countries' products, Sindicel said.

"Forecasts are being revised. We hope for a slight recovery in the second half," said Sindicel's executive director, Valdemir Romero. "But we don't see jobs growth exceeding 3%."

The copper-processing industry had initially forecast 10% growth in job numbers in 2012 from 2011 levels, Sindicel said.

Write to Diana Kinch at [e-mail]

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