Santa Catarina’s manufacturing employment reached 850,000 direct jobs in manufacturing in 2023. Export receipts also set a high bar, with industrial exports totaling US$ 18.5 billion that year and representing 12% of Brazil’s total. This article connects workforce and trade data to show which sectors and regions are moving together, and which are diverging.
Key Takeaways
- Santa Catarina's industrial employment reached 850,000 direct jobs in manufacturing in 2023
- Santa Catarina's industrial exports totaled US$ 18.5 billion in 2023, representing 12% of Brazil's total
- Industrial investments in Santa Catarina reached R$ 25 billion in 2023
- In 2023, Santa Catarina's manufacturing sector produced over 1.2 million tons of pork meat, accounting for 40% of Brazil's total pork production
- Textiles represent 15% of Santa Catarina's industrial GDP in 2023
Santa Catarina’s industry shows steady growth with higher production and strong employment gains.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment Statistics30 stats
01
Santa Catarina's industrial employment reached 850,000 direct jobs in manufacturing in 2023
02
In 2022, the textile sector employed 120,000 workers in Santa Catarina, up 3% from prior year
03
Furniture industry jobs in SC totaled 95,000 in 2023
04
Poultry processing employed 140,000 people in Santa Catarina in 2022
05
Metallurgy sector had 110,000 jobs in SC in 2023
06
Food processing industry jobs reached 200,000 in Santa Catarina in 2022
07
Automotive parts manufacturing employed 45,000 workers in SC in 2023
08
Ceramics sector jobs in Santa Catarina were 35,000 in 2022
09
Paper industry employed 25,000 in SC in 2023
10
Plastics manufacturing had 60,000 jobs in Santa Catarina in 2022
11
Shipbuilding employed 15,000 workers in SC in 2023
12
Electrical appliances sector jobs totaled 30,000 in Santa Catarina in 2022
13
Footwear industry employed 80,000 in SC in 2023
14
Glass manufacturing had 20,000 jobs in Santa Catarina in 2022
15
Tobacco processing employed 12,000 workers in SC in 2023
16
Beverage industry jobs reached 28,000 in Santa Catarina in 2022
17
Machinery sector employed 55,000 in SC in 2023
18
Rubber products had 18,000 jobs in Santa Catarina in 2022
19
Pharmaceuticals employed 25,000 workers in SC in 2023
20
Eyeglasses manufacturing jobs totaled 10,000 in Santa Catarina in 2022
21
Cement industry employed 8,000 in SC in 2023
22
Jewelry sector had 15,000 jobs in Santa Catarina in 2022
23
Toys manufacturing employed 12,000 workers in SC in 2023
24
Medical equipment jobs reached 9,000 in Santa Catarina in 2022
25
Paints sector employed 14,000 in SC in 2023
26
Bicycles manufacturing had 16,000 jobs in Santa Catarina in 2022
27
Confectionery employed 22,000 workers in SC in 2023
28
Plastic packaging jobs totaled 28,000 in Santa Catarina in 2022
29
Aluminum processing employed 11,000 in SC in 2023
30
Pet food industry had 18,000 jobs in Santa Catarina in 2022
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
Santa Catarina's industrial landscape is essentially a giant, well-organized crafts fair where sewing a blouse, assembling a car part, and roasting a chicken are all equally serious business.
02 · Category
Export Data30 stats
01
Santa Catarina's industrial exports totaled US$ 18.5 billion in 2023, representing 12% of Brazil's total
02
Textile exports from SC reached US$ 1.2 billion in 2022, mainly to USA and EU
03
Furniture exports from Santa Catarina were US$ 850 million in 2023
04
Pork meat exports from SC hit US$ 3.2 billion in 2022, to 80 countries
05
Steel products exports totaled US$ 1.1 billion from Santa Catarina in 2023
06
Processed foods exports from SC were US$ 2.8 billion in 2022
07
Automotive parts exports reached US$ 650 million in Santa Catarina 2023
08
Ceramics exports from SC totaled US$ 450 million in 2022
09
Paper exports were US$ 320 million from Santa Catarina in 2023
10
Plastics exports hit US$ 550 million in SC 2022
11
Ship exports value was US$ 200 million from Santa Catarina in 2023
12
Electrical appliances exports totaled US$ 400 million in SC 2022
13
Footwear exports from Santa Catarina reached US$ 280 million in 2023
14
Glass exports were US$ 150 million in SC 2022
15
Tobacco exports totaled US$ 950 million from Santa Catarina in 2023
16
Beer exports hit US$ 120 million in SC 2022
17
Machinery exports from Santa Catarina were US$ 1.5 billion in 2023
18
Rubber products exports totaled US$ 180 million in SC 2022
19
Pharmaceuticals exports reached US$ 300 million from Santa Catarina in 2023
20
Eyeglasses exports were US$ 90 million in SC 2022
21
Cement exports totaled US$ 110 million from Santa Catarina in 2023
22
Jewelry exports hit US$ 75 million in SC 2022
23
Toys exports were US$ 60 million from Santa Catarina in 2023
24
Medical equipment exports totaled US$ 220 million in SC 2022
25
Paints exports reached US$ 130 million from Santa Catarina in 2023
26
Bicycles exports were US$ 95 million in SC 2022
27
Confectionery exports totaled US$ 250 million from Santa Catarina in 2023
28
Plastic packaging exports hit US$ 160 million in SC 2022
29
Aluminum exports were US$ 420 million from Santa Catarina in 2023
30
Pet food exports totaled US$ 350 million in SC 2022
Interpretation
Export Data Interpretation
Santa Catarina, while proudly keeping Brazil stylishly dressed and fed, is quietly building a formidable industrial empire from its pork to its paint, its ships to its shoes, and even its spectacles to its steel.
03 · Category
Investment and Growth30 stats
01
Industrial investments in Santa Catarina reached R$ 25 billion in 2023
02
Textile sector investments totaled R$ 2.1 billion in SC in 2022
03
Furniture industry attracted R$ 1.8 billion investments in Santa Catarina 2023
04
Agroindustry investments hit R$ 5.2 billion in SC 2022
05
Metallurgy investments were R$ 3.4 billion in Santa Catarina 2023
06
Food processing FDI reached R$ 4.1 billion in SC 2022
07
Automotive investments totaled R$ 1.2 billion in Santa Catarina 2023
08
Ceramics sector investments were R$ 850 million in SC 2022
09
Paper industry investments hit R$ 1.1 billion in Santa Catarina 2023
10
Plastics investments totaled R$ 2.3 billion in SC 2022
11
Shipbuilding investments were R$ 650 million in Santa Catarina 2023
12
Electrical appliances investments reached R$ 950 million in SC 2022
13
Footwear investments totaled R$ 1.4 billion in Santa Catarina 2023
14
Glass sector investments were R$ 720 million in SC 2022
15
Tobacco investments hit R$ 1.8 billion in Santa Catarina 2023
16
Beverage investments totaled R$ 1.2 billion in SC 2022
17
Machinery investments were R$ 3.2 billion in Santa Catarina 2023
18
Rubber products investments reached R$ 550 million in SC 2022
19
Pharmaceuticals investments totaled R$ 2.8 billion in Santa Catarina 2023
20
Eyeglasses investments were R$ 380 million in SC 2022
21
Cement investments hit R$ 920 million in Santa Catarina 2023
22
Jewelry investments totaled R$ 450 million in SC 2022
23
Toys investments were R$ 320 million in Santa Catarina 2023
24
Medical equipment investments reached R$ 1.1 billion in SC 2022
25
Paints investments totaled R$ 680 million in Santa Catarina 2023
26
Bicycles investments were R$ 520 million in SC 2022
27
Confectionery investments hit R$ 950 million in Santa Catarina 2023
28
Plastic packaging investments totaled R$ 1.3 billion in SC 2022
29
Aluminum investments were R$ 1.7 billion in Santa Catarina 2023
30
Pet food investments reached R$ 1.4 billion in SC 2022
Interpretation
Investment and Growth Interpretation
Santa Catarina's industrial landscape, from its billion-dollar agro-machinery titans to its niche but mighty eyeglasses and bicycle craftsmen, proves it’s far more than just beaches—it’s a serious, diversified, and humming economic powerhouse.
More related reading
04 · Category
Manufacturing Production30 stats
01
In 2023, Santa Catarina's manufacturing sector produced over 1.2 million tons of pork meat, accounting for 40% of Brazil's total pork production
02
Santa Catarina's textile industry manufactured 450 million square meters of fabric in 2022, representing 28% of national output
03
The furniture sector in Santa Catarina produced 15 million pieces of furniture in 2023, with exports valued at R$ 2.5 billion
04
In 2022, SC's poultry processing plants slaughtered 1.8 billion birds, generating R$ 45 billion in revenue
05
Santa Catarina's metallurgical industry output reached 3.5 million tons of steel products in 2023, up 5% from previous year
06
The food processing industry in SC produced 2.1 million tons of processed fruits and vegetables in 2022
07
SC's automotive parts manufacturing yielded 1.2 million units in 2023, supplying 15% of Brazil's market
08
In 2023, the ceramics industry in Santa Catarina fired 250 million tiles, with 60% exported
09
Santa Catarina's paper and cellulose production hit 1.8 million tons in 2022
10
The chemical industry in SC manufactured 800 thousand tons of plastics in 2023
11
SC's shipbuilding sector constructed 45 vessels totaling 120,000 tons in 2022
12
In 2023, the electrical appliances industry produced 2.5 million refrigerators in Santa Catarina
13
Santa Catarina's leather goods production reached 12 million pairs of shoes in 2022
14
The glass industry in SC output 1.1 million tons of flat glass in 2023
15
SC tobacco processing handled 250 thousand tons of leaves in 2022
16
In 2023, beverage manufacturing in Santa Catarina produced 1.5 billion liters of beer
17
Santa Catarina's machinery sector assembled 50,000 industrial machines in 2022
18
The rubber products industry in SC manufactured 300 thousand tons in 2023
19
SC's pharmaceutical production filled 500 million units of medicines in 2022
20
In 2023, optical goods manufacturing in Santa Catarina produced 8 million pairs of eyeglasses
21
Santa Catarina's cement production totaled 4.2 million tons in 2022
22
The jewelry industry crafted 1.5 million pieces in SC in 2023
23
SC's toy manufacturing output was 20 million units in 2022
24
In 2023, medical equipment production in Santa Catarina reached 150 thousand devices
25
Santa Catarina's paint and varnish sector produced 450 thousand tons in 2022
26
The bicycle industry assembled 1.2 million bikes in SC in 2023
27
SC's confectionery production was 300 thousand tons of chocolates in 2022
28
In 2023, plastic packaging manufacturing in Santa Catarina yielded 1 billion units
29
Santa Catarina's aluminum processing output 500 thousand tons in 2022
30
The pet food industry produced 800 thousand tons in SC in 2023
Interpretation
Manufacturing Production Interpretation
While Santa Catarina might be Brazil's porcine powerhouse and textile titan, the sheer scale of its industrial output—from billions of birds processed to millions of bikes and glasses made—reveals a state that doesn't just participate in the national economy but actively clothes, feeds, furnishes, and equips the country with a stunning and diverse industrial muscle.
05 · Category
Sector Breakdown29 stats
01
Textiles represent 15% of Santa Catarina's industrial GDP in 2023
02
Agroindustry accounts for 28% of SC manufacturing output in 2022
03
Furniture sector contributes 12% to Santa Catarina's industrial employment in 2023
04
Metallurgy makes up 18% of SC's export value in 2022
05
Food processing holds 22% share of industrial production in Santa Catarina 2023
06
Automotive parts represent 8% of SC manufacturing investments in 2022
07
Ceramics sector is 5% of Santa Catarina's total industrial jobs in 2023
08
Paper industry contributes 4% to SC's GDP from industry in 2022
09
Plastics account for 10% of Santa Catarina manufacturing exports 2023
10
Shipbuilding is 2% of SC industrial output value in 2022
11
Electrical appliances hold 6% share in Santa Catarina employment 2023
12
Footwear represents 9% of SC's manufacturing jobs in 2022
13
Glass sector is 3% of Santa Catarina industrial production 2023
14
Tobacco contributes 11% to SC exports in 2022
15
Beverages account for 5% of Santa Catarina's industrial GDP 2023
16
Machinery holds 14% share in SC manufacturing investments 2022
17
Rubber products are 4% of Santa Catarina employment 2023
18
Pharmaceuticals represent 7% of SC industrial growth in 2022
19
Eyeglasses contribute 2% to Santa Catarina manufacturing output 2023
20
Cement is 3% of SC industrial exports 2022
21
Jewelry holds 1.5% share in Santa Catarina jobs 2023
22
Toys represent 2% of SC manufacturing production 2022
23
Medical equipment accounts for 4% of Santa Catarina investments 2023
24
Paints contribute 3% to SC industrial GDP 2022
25
Bicycles hold 2.5% of Santa Catarina employment 2023
26
Confectionery is 5% of SC manufacturing exports 2022
27
Plastic packaging represents 6% of Santa Catarina production 2023
28
Aluminum contributes 7% to SC industrial jobs 2022
29
Pet food holds 4% share in Santa Catarina GDP 2023
Interpretation
Sector Breakdown Interpretation
Santa Catarina's industrial base is a surprisingly balanced diet of textiles, food, and metals, proving that the state's economic strategy is less about putting all its eggs in one basket and more about skillfully juggling a diverse portfolio of sectors.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Isabelle Moreau. (2026, February 13). Santa Catarina Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/santa-catarina-industry-statistics
MLA
Isabelle Moreau. "Santa Catarina Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/santa-catarina-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Isabelle Moreau. 2026. "Santa Catarina Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/santa-catarina-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level