While Bahia's factories are often celebrated for their traditional products, a powerful transformation is happening: the state's industrial sector is now a powerhouse, contributing over 22% to Bahia's GDP and, as of 2022, achieving a remarkable 4.8% year-over-year growth in production.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Bahia's industrial production index reached 112.5 points, marking a 4.8% year-over-year increase driven by non-metallic minerals and food processing sectors
- Bahia's manufacturing sector contributed 18.3% to the state's GDP in 2021, with petrochemicals accounting for 25% of industrial output valued at R$ 45.2 billion
- The Camaçari Petrochemical Complex produced 2.1 million tons of ethylene in 2023, representing 42% of Brazil's total ethylene production capacity
- Bahia's industrial employment stood at 285,000 jobs in 2022, with 5.2% growth from 2021
- Manufacturing sector employed 180,000 workers in Bahia in Q3 2023, averaging R$ 2,800 monthly wage
- Petrochemical industry in Bahia had 35,000 direct jobs in 2022, with 12% female participation rate
- Bahia attracted R$ 12.5 billion in industrial investments in 2022, with 60% in petrochemicals
- Camaçari Complex expansions cost R$ 4.2 billion in 2023 from Braskem and partners
- Ford Bahia plant invested R$ 1.1 billion for new SUV production line in 2022
- Bahia industrial exports reached US$ 8.9 billion in 2022, led by petrochemicals at 45%
- Soybean meal exports from Bahia totaled 1.2 million tons in 2023, valued at US$ 650 million
- Automotive exports from Bahia: 120,000 vehicles in 2022 to Mercosur markets
- Bahia industry contributed 22.5% to state GDP in 2022, generating R$ 102 billion
- Industrial taxes paid: R$ 15.4 billion in ICMS to Bahia state in 2023
- Multiplier effect: each industrial job creates 2.8 indirect jobs in Bahia economy 2022
Bahia's industrial sector saw strong growth in 2022, led by significant production and investment across diverse sectors.
Economic Contribution
- Bahia industry contributed 22.5% to state GDP in 2022, generating R$ 102 billion
- Industrial taxes paid: R$ 15.4 billion in ICMS to Bahia state in 2023
- Multiplier effect: each industrial job creates 2.8 indirect jobs in Bahia economy 2022
- Industrial GDP growth: 6.1% in Bahia vs 4.2% national average in 2022
- Petrochemical cluster impact: R$ 28 billion annual to Bahia economy 2023
- Agribusiness industry value added: R$ 35 billion or 15% of state GDP 2022
- Export revenues funded 18% of Bahia's public investments in 2023
- Innovation R&D spend: 1.2% of industrial revenue in Bahia 2022, above national 0.9%
- Sustainability: Bahia industries reduced CO2 by 12% per ton produced 2019-2022
- Tourism industry linkage: R$ 4.5 billion from industrial suppliers in 2023
- Bahia industry formal revenue: R$ 450 billion in 2022 across 12,500 firms
- Regional development: Industry lifted 45% of Salvador metro GDP growth 2022
- Skill development: 25,000 trained workers added R$ 2.1 billion productivity gain 2023
- Bahia's manufacturing employment share: 12% of total state jobs in 2022
- Industry share in Bahia tax revenue: 32% or R$ 22 billion in 2022
- Industrial clusters generated 1.2 million indirect jobs in supply chain 2023
- R&D tax incentives claimed R$ 450 million by Bahia firms 2022
- Energy bill savings from efficiency: R$ 1.8 billion industry-wide 2023
- Export promotion programs aided 450 firms, adding US$ 500 million 2022
- Social investments by industry: R$ 320 million CSR in 2023 Bahia
Economic Contribution Interpretation
Bahia's industries are the state's not-so-secret economic engine, proving their worth by fueling a quarter of its GDP, funding public investments, and creating a multiplier effect that turns every factory job into nearly three more, all while paying their taxes, funding innovation, and cleaning up their act with genuine sustainability gains.
Employment and Labor
- Bahia's industrial employment stood at 285,000 jobs in 2022, with 5.2% growth from 2021
- Manufacturing sector employed 180,000 workers in Bahia in Q3 2023, averaging R$ 2,800 monthly wage
- Petrochemical industry in Bahia had 35,000 direct jobs in 2022, with 12% female participation rate
- Food processing plants in Bahia employed 65,000 in 2023, with 8% increase due to export demands
- Construction industry jobs in Bahia reached 120,000 in 2022, supported by infrastructure projects
- Automotive sector created 25,000 jobs in Bahia since 2020, with JAC Motors plant adding 2,500
- Mining operations in Bahia employed 18,000 workers in 2023, focusing on nickel and gold
- Chemical industry workforce in Bahia totaled 42,000 in 2022, with training programs for 5,000 annually
- Energy sector (oil & gas) jobs in 2023: 28,000 in Bahia, up 15% from offshore platforms
- Textile and apparel employed 55,000 in Bahia 2022, with youth programs training 10,000
- Steel industry jobs: 15,000 in Bahia 2023, average tenure 12 years
- Agribusiness processing employed 95,000 in Bahia 2022, seasonal peaks at 120,000
- IT and electronics manufacturing jobs grew to 12,000 in 2023 in Salvador tech parks
- Tourism-related industry services employed 40,000 in Bahia 2022
- Female employment in Bahia industry rose to 28% of total 285,000 jobs in 2023
- Youth under 25: 18% of industrial workforce or 51,000 jobs in 2022 Bahia
- Unionized workers: 62% in manufacturing Bahia 2023, highest in Northeast
- Turnover rate: 4.2% in Bahia industry 2022, below national 5.8%
- Formalization rate: 92% of industrial jobs in Bahia 2023
- Skilled labor shortage: 15,000 vacancies in engineering roles 2022
- Average hours worked: 42.5 per week in manufacturing 2023
- Wage premium: Industrial wages 1.8x minimum in Bahia 2022
- Apprenticeships: 18,000 SENAI slots filled in Bahia industry 2023
- Remote work adoption: 8% of industrial jobs post-COVID 2022
- Disability inclusion: 2.5% workforce quota met in 85% firms 2023
- Shift work prevalence: 55% of jobs in continuous operations 2022
- Black workers representation: 65% in Bahia industry 2023
Employment and Labor Interpretation
While Bahia’s factories hum with nearly 300,000 jobs, the real story is found in the details: a strong unionized workforce holds steady for 12 years in steel, even as the state chases 15,000 missing engineers and works to turn its 65% Black worker representation into greater leadership roles.
Exports and Trade
- Bahia industrial exports reached US$ 8.9 billion in 2022, led by petrochemicals at 45%
- Soybean meal exports from Bahia totaled 1.2 million tons in 2023, valued at US$ 650 million
- Automotive exports from Bahia: 120,000 vehicles in 2022 to Mercosur markets
- Chemical products exports grew 15% to US$ 2.1 billion in 2023
- Pulp exports: 1.3 million tons from Bahia ports in 2022, US$ 1.05 billion
- Steel products exported 350,000 tons in 2023, primarily to Argentina
- Fruit juices exports: US$ 450 million in 2022, 60% to Europe
- Aluminum exports from Bahia: 280,000 tons in 2023, US$ 750 million FOB
- Textiles exports reached US$ 180 million in 2022, focusing on denim to USA
- Footwear exports: 8 million pairs in 2023, US$ 120 million to EU
- Nickel concentrates exports: 50,000 tons from Mirabela in 2022
- Pharmaceuticals exports: US$ 95 million in 2023 generics to Africa
- Electronics exports grew to US$ 220 million in 2022 from Samsung
- Bahia imports for industry: US$ 4.2 billion machinery in 2022
- Crude oil imports processed: 2.5 million barrels/day equivalent 2023 RLAM
- Fertilizer imports for Bahia agroindustry: 1.1 million tons 2022
- Steel imports declined 8% to 200,000 tons in 2023
- Chemical raw materials imports US$ 1.8 billion 2022
- Automotive parts imports: US$ 350 million 2023 from China
- Pulp machinery imports R$ 250 million 2022
- Pharma active ingredients imports US$ 120 million 2023
- Electronics components US$ 180 million imported 2022
- Trade balance surplus US$ 4.7 billion for Bahia industry 2023
- Textiles imports reduced 12% to US$ 45 million 2022
- Mining equipment imports R$ 150 million 2023
Exports and Trade Interpretation
Bahia's industry is an economic engine, shrewdly blending deep petrochemical roots with diverse exports from pulp to denim, while strategically importing the machinery and materials needed to fuel this growth and maintain a handsome trade surplus.
Investment and Capital
- Bahia attracted R$ 12.5 billion in industrial investments in 2022, with 60% in petrochemicals
- Camaçari Complex expansions cost R$ 4.2 billion in 2023 from Braskem and partners
- Ford Bahia plant invested R$ 1.1 billion for new SUV production line in 2022
- Renewable energy parks in Bahia received R$ 8.7 billion FDI in 2023
- Mining investments totaled R$ 3.5 billion in Jacobina gold fields 2022-2023
- Food industry FDI: R$ 2.8 billion in 2022 for juice processing expansions
- Cement plants upgraded with R$ 1.9 billion in automation tech in Bahia 2023
- Automotive suppliers invested R$ 900 million in 2022 for EV components
- Pulp mills like Suzano invested R$ 5.2 billion in Mucuri unit expansion 2021-2023
- Pharmaceutical parks attracted R$ 1.4 billion from EMS and Aché in 2023
- Steel rolling mills received R$ 750 million CAPEX in 2022
- Logistics infrastructure for industry: R$ 2.1 billion port expansions in Salvador 2023
- Tech incubators funded R$ 450 million for industrial IoT startups in 2022
- Agrotech investments R$ 1.2 billion for processing automation 2023
- Textile modernization: R$ 600 million in 2022 from ABIT members
- R$ 6.8 billion greenfield investments announced for Bahia renewables 2023
- Veracel pulp mill CAPEX R$ 1.5 billion for capacity doubling 2022-2024
- JAC Motors plant R$ 1.2 billion for 50,000 vehicles/year capacity 2023
- Gold mining expansions R$ 900 million by Yamana Gold 2022
- Braskem PP unit R$ 2.4 billion investment online 2023
- Cement capacity addition R$ 850 million by CSN 2022
- EMS Pharma R$ 650 million biotech park in Feira 2023
- Gerdau steel mill upgrade R$ 1.1 billion 2022-2023
- Port industrial terminals R$ 3.2 billion PPP investments 2023
- IT industrial parks R$ 550 million venture capital 2022
- Sugar mill modernizations R$ 1.8 billion across 15 units 2023
- Textile tech upgrades R$ 420 million gov incentives 2022
- Footwear automation R$ 280 million in 2023
Investment and Capital Interpretation
Bahia is doing industrial yoga, stretching from petrochemical roots into a perfectly balanced pose of renewables, tech, and smarter manufacturing.
Production and Output
- In 2022, Bahia's industrial production index reached 112.5 points, marking a 4.8% year-over-year increase driven by non-metallic minerals and food processing sectors
- Bahia's manufacturing sector contributed 18.3% to the state's GDP in 2021, with petrochemicals accounting for 25% of industrial output valued at R$ 45.2 billion
- The Camaçari Petrochemical Complex produced 2.1 million tons of ethylene in 2023, representing 42% of Brazil's total ethylene production capacity
- Bahia's food and beverage industry output grew 7.2% in 2022, producing 1.8 million tons of processed fruits and juices
- In Q4 2023, steel production in Bahia reached 450,000 tons, up 12% from previous quarter due to Ilhéus mill expansion
- Bahia cement production totaled 8.5 million tons in 2022, with 65% exported to Northeast Brazil markets
- Automotive parts manufacturing in Bahia output 1.2 million units in 2023, focusing on Ford's Camaçari plant suppliers
- Bahia's pulp and paper industry produced 1.4 million tons of eucalyptus pulp in 2022, with Veracel leading at 1.1 million tons
- Pharmaceutical production in Bahia grew to R$ 1.8 billion in value in 2023, with 15 new plants operational
- Textile industry in Bahia manufactured 250 million meters of fabric in 2022, emphasizing cotton from semi-arid regions
- Bahia's shipbuilding sector delivered 12 vessels totaling 150,000 DWT in 2023
- Electronics assembly in Bahia produced 500,000 smartphones in 2022 under Samsung's expansion
- Bahia sugar processing yielded 2.5 million tons of sugar in 2022/23 harvest from 25 mills
- Aluminum smelting in Bahia output 320,000 tons in 2023 from Alunorte partnerships
- Footwear industry in Bahia manufactured 45 million pairs in 2022, with Nova Serrana hub contributing 60%
- In 2023, Bahia's non-metallic minerals production index surged 9.1% YoY, producing 10.2 million tons of cement and derivatives
- Bahia ethanol output hit 1.8 billion liters in 2022/23 from 22 distilleries
- Oil refining at RLAM processed 11.5 million m³ of diesel in 2023
- Bahia furniture industry output: 2.5 million pieces valued at R$ 1.2 billion in 2022
- Plastics manufacturing reached 850,000 tons in Bahia 2023
- Wind turbine components produced: 1,500 units in Bahia factories 2022
- Bahia ceramics output: 45 million m² tiles in 2023
- Gold production: 250,000 oz from Jacobina mine in 2022
- Leather goods: 12 million units processed in 2022
- Bahia glass industry: 1.1 million tons flat glass in 2023
- Rubber products output: 180,000 tons tires and parts in 2022
- Biofuel blending plants produced 450 million liters biodiesel 2023
- Bahia paint industry: R$ 2.1 billion sales volume 2022
- Precision metalworking: 500,000 components for oil rigs in 2023
Production and Output Interpretation
Bahia's industrial sector is a surprisingly well-rounded heavyweight, flexing both its petrochemical muscles and its fruit-processing finesse to prove it's far more than just an oil-rich state with a juice box on the side.
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