Expectations for Black Friday are positive despite the impact of the drought on AM

Drought

Fecomércio-AM research shows positive expectations for sales on Black Friday

Manaus (AM) – The Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM) is responsible for manufacturing most of the most sought after products during the sexta-feira Negra – day when retailers carry out a series of promotions to attract buyers -. Industries in the capital of Amazonas export products produced at the Manaus Industrial Pole (PIM) to the rest of the country, but due to the historic drought that hits the region, this cargo transportation has become a challenge.

The Federation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism of the State of Amazonas (Fecomércio-AM) held a meeting, last month, with representatives of ports, shipowners, operators and large transport companies, to request measures, elected as urgent and necessary by peers , in order to minimize the impacts of the drought that has caused an increase in freight prices, logistical operations and imminent shortages of goods, mainly for the interior of the State.

Despite all the difficulties faced by the industry during this dry period, including the adoption of collective holidays by companies granted in the PIM, the recovery of the sector is eagerly awaited by workers in the area.

The Fecomércio Institute of Business Research of Amazonas (Ifpeam) carried out a preliminary survey analyzing expectations for the sexta-feira Negra and Christmas Shopping in 2023. According to the survey, the festivities are positive for commerce.

For 39% of people who participated in the interview, the expectation should be between 11% and 35% of increase, including the growth of e-commerce. Holiday sales are expected to advance compared to the 2022 event.

Economist Denise Kassama justifies traders’ expectations due to the country’s current economic scenario, even with the State facing a period of severe drought.

“There is a positive expectation of growth, we are in a more positive economic scenario, with a reduction in the level of unemployment, with an improvement in average income. The issue of e-commerce, since the pandemic, those who were afraid of e-commerce have lost that fear, so we believe that there will be a lot of activity because of this and even because of the movement. Those who are already starting to receive the 13th installment are already taking advantage of Black Friday”,

points out the economist.

According to the expert, the industry in Amazonas is used to river floods and droughts, but the extreme levels reached this year took part of the PIM by surprise.

“There is this fear that there will be a possible shortage in relation to Black Friday due to the drought, although now we are observing that the river has risen again. Every year we have drought, what we don’t have is an atypical drought, but the factories here plan, because they know that when the end of the year arrives, the river becomes drier and many try to plan the flow of products. The industries that took precautions are calmer, and those that left it until the last minute have a certain risk, as it will still take a while for the river to be at a good level for ships to travel”,

concluded Kassama.

Black Friday 2022

In 2022, Fecomércio’s intention survey showed that 69% of consumers interviewed would join and take advantage of Black Friday, another 31% did not intend to or had no opinion.

Regarding shopping locations, shopping centers led with 33% of preference among consumers, justified by the variety of options, environmental air conditioning, security, parking, combined with coexistence environments. With 32%, the Center of Manaus appeared. With 17%, neighborhood commerce, characterized by ease, less urban mobility and ease of parking. Online sales appeared with 16% of preference.

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Amazonas has 598 thousand people affected by severe drought