Sep 3, 2015

• Infrastructure still leading with releases of R$ 26 billion
• Financing for the Green Economy grows 34.7% in the period

The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) disbursed R$ 68.7 billion in the first half of this year. Of that total, the infrastructure sector received R$ 26 billion with a participation of 37.8%, and the electric energy segment was the main beneficiary (R$ 10.5 billion released).

In second place is industry with R$ 20.2 billion (29.5% of the total), followed by trade and services with R$ 15 billion (22%), then cattle-raising and agriculture with R$ 7.4 billion (10.8%).

Disbursements in relation to the same period in 2014 decreased 18%. Approvals, which totaled R$ 43.1 billion, decreased by 50% and consultations were at R$ 60.7 billion, a drop of 47%.

Micro, small and medium-sized companies (MSME) maintained significant participation of 28.7% in the BNDES’ disbursements in the first half of the year. In that period, some R$ 19.7 billion was released to smaller companies, in some 464,000 operations.

The reason for this result is the BNDES Card – a credit instrument solely for MSMEs – whose disbursements amounted to R$ 5.8 billion between January and June, expanding 12.7% when compared to the same period in 2014.

The Bank forecasts that releases through the BNDES Card should total R$ 15 billion this year, expanding 10% on results in the previous year.

One of the highlights of the BNDES’ performance in this half is the growing financial support for projects in the so-called “green economy”, with disbursements of R$ 14.6 billion (increase of 34.7% compared to the same period in 2014).

In the 12 months ending in June this year, disbursements to green economy projects reached R$ 32 billion (up 23% in relation to the previous 12-month period). This item includes projects related to renewable energy and energy efficiency, forestry production, hybrid and electric transport, sanitation and agricultural improvements, among others.

The Bank’s Performance Report for the first half of 2015 is available here.