Energy costs represent 31% of the final price of bread in Brazil, according to a study published by Abrace (Brazilian Association of Large Industrial Energy Consumers and Free Consumers).
The impact reflects expenses with electricity and natural gas along the production chain, in addition to expenses with other energy sources, including fuels such as diesel oil.
The slice also exceeds 30% in other symbolic foods on the Brazilian table. In the final price of pasta, for example, the weight of energy reaches 38.4%, says the survey.
In sugar, the percentage reaches 36.1%. In cookies and crackers, the slice is 35%.
The survey was commissioned by Abrace from Ex Ante Consultoria Econômica. Estimates were made from data available up to 2019, before the pandemic.
The weights must have gotten even higher due to the cost of electricity and fuel over the last few months, according to Paulo Pedrosa, president of Abrace.
“The intention of the study is to try to reposition the debate on energy in Brazil. The debate today is very focused on the production chain and has little participation of consumers”, says the leader.
“The way out is to dismantle something that happens in the electricity sector. Today, more than half of the bill [de luz] that the consumer pays is made up of subsidies, charges, fees, taxes. There is a lot of room to improve and bring more competition to the sector,” he adds.
The weight of energy on final prices ranges from spending on food production processes, which require electricity and gas, to the transport of goods, which requires fuel.
recent report from Sheet showed that the inflation of items such as bread made breakfast more expensive for Brazilians. In the 12-month period up to May, French bread rose 15.59%, indicate IPCA data (Broad National Consumer Price Index).
Impact on meat and dairy
The cost of energy also impacts meat and dairy prices. According to the study released by Embrace, energy accounts for 49.3% of the final value of frozen or processed fish, 43.3% of pork and poultry, 31.3% of milk, 26.2% of butter, cheese and yogurts. and 23.9% of beef.
There is also the weight on various drinks. The share of energy in prices is 26.4% in the case of beer, 22.8% in water, 15.3% in wine, 6.7% in cachaça and 4.6% in soft drinks.
The Abrace survey goes beyond food and also analyzes items such as school supplies and durable goods.
According to the study, energy has a weight of 35.9% in the final price of the notebook, 24.5% in the value of the eraser and 14.8% in the pencil.
In automobiles, the share is 14.1%. In electronics, it is estimated at 10.6%.
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