According to the Comerc Index, the sector ended August with an increase in energy consumption compared to the same period in 2019

São Paulo, September 2020 – Against the grain of the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Packaging has been operating at full steam. The implementation of isolation measures to contain the virus caused online commerce and delivery food to increase exponentially, resulting in greater demand for packaging. The sector ended August with a slight increase in energy consumption: 0,88% compared to the same month of 2019. This is what the Comerc Index indicates, which measures energy consumption in the 11 main sectors of the economy.

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The encouraging performance of the sector has been observed for some months. In the first half, the country produced 357 tons of paperboard – an increase of 1,4% compared to the same period in 2019, according to the Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá). Corrugated cardboard production recorded an increase of 8,16% in July compared to the same period in 2019, according to the Brazilian Association of Corrugated Cardboard – ABPO.

For Marcelo Ávila, Vice President of Comerc Energia, energy consumption by the Packaging sector should intensify even more until the end of the year. “Even with the easing of isolation measures, we observed that online and delivery consumption should remain high, as it was very well received by consumers. In addition, the last quarter of the year tends to be favorable for the sector due to commemorative dates, such as Children's Day [October], Black Friday [November] and Christmas [December]”. Ávila points out that other sectors should be impacted with the proximity of these dates, with Food and Retail & Trade, which usually intensify their activities at the end of the year.

Optimism with the recovery can also be observed in the sector Chemist - which, following the example of the Packaging sector, remained heated even during the pandemic and, in August, increased by 3,8% compared to August 2019. According to a survey by the Brazilian Institute of Economics of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (Ibre/ FGV), in August approximately 40% of the industrial segments recorded a higher level of confidence than that observed in the pre-pandemic period, with the chemical industry occupying third place in the ranking, a few points behind Textiles and Vehicles.

In August, eight of the 11 sectors monitored by the Comerc Index showed an increase in energy consumption in relation to the previous month (July). Of those that presented a decrease, Food and Pulp & Paper remained at the historical average (2,13% and 2,52%, respectively); Construction Materials, which was hot during the pandemic, fell by 7,02%. “All sectors are looking forward to the recovery, which is already being observed, even if in a modest way. It is too early to assess, in the consolidated for the year, the sectors that will be more or less impacted by the pandemic, but seeing that the market is warming up and preparing for the last quarter should be seen positively”, Complete Avila.

Methodology

The Comerc Energia Index, published monthly, takes into account the consumption of more than 2.300 units in its portfolio, belonging to approximately 1.100 companies that purchase electricity on the free market.

About Comerc Energia

Comerc Energia is the largest and most complete provider of services related to the energy market in Brazil. With a portfolio consisting of more than 2.300 consumer units, belonging to approximately 1.100 companies, its revenue was approximately R$ 3 billion in 2019. Comerc Energia is made up of seven business units, in order to fully meet the needs of its customers. A Trade Management is the largest energy manager in the country, being responsible for managing, in 2019, 3.500 average MW, or the equivalent of 5% of the energy consumed in the country. It also manages approximately 5 GW of power from more than 130 generators, independent producers and self-producers, equivalent to 35% of the total power of the Itaipu hydroelectric plant.

A Trade Trading is one of the largest independent traders in the country, negotiating an average of 2019 GWm per month in 1,6, considering purchase and sale operations. already, the newcom is an independent trading company dedicated to structuring complex operations involving the purchase and sale of energy contracts. Its portfolio also includes income protection operations and financial anticipation. A trade gas it manages the consumption of natural gas, assisting in the contracting of this input, with cost reduction possibilities for companies and support for complex regulatory solutions. At the same time, the Trade Esco it structures distributed generation projects and manages generation and consumption, in addition to developing and implementing energy efficiency solutions, with a focus on reducing electricity consumption. Finally, the MicroPower-Comerc develops electric energy storage projects in batteries.

In the field of innovation and technology, Comerc operates, through the DocLabs, with a space to accelerate startups; and with technology solutions for corporations, with the company DOC 88.