Mato Grosso industry shows modest annual growth but recent monthly decline

Industrial production in Brazil’s central-west state of Mato Grosso displayed mixed results in 2026. Data from the IBGE indicate that output rose 3.5% between January and May compared with the same period in 2025, outpacing the national increase of 1.4% and placing the state among the five best‑performing regions. Growth was led by non‑metallic mineral products (+23.9%), biofuels (+10.0%) and food‑processing (+2.6%). State industry representative Silvio Rangel highlighted the sector’s “strength in agro‑industry and biofuel‑linked transformation.” However, the May‑to‑April month‑over‑month figure fell 3.2%, one of the steepest drops among Brazil’s states, extending a two‑month cumulative decline of 8.6%. Despite the short‑term contraction, the year‑to‑date figure remains up 1.3% over 2025, keeping Mato Grosso in the group of states with positive annual industrial growth.

These opposing trends underline the volatility of the state’s manufacturing base, which remains a key driver of regional employment and investment even as specific sectors face short‑term headwinds.