With a loss of R$7.2 billion in 2024, state-owned enterprises accumulate worst deficit in 22 years

State-owned enterprises have accumulated a A deficit of R$7.2 billion from January to August 2024This is according to data from the financial statistics report issued by the Central Bank. It is the biggest break in the historical series that began in 2002.

Of this amount, 47% (or R$3.374 billion) includes federal state-owned enterprises, while state enterprises account for 53% (R$3.858 billion). However, the figures do not take into account companies from the Petrobras (PETR4) and Eletrobras (ELET3) groups.

Since these companies are government-controlled, it is up to the national treasury to cover any imbalances – generating impacts on public accounts at a sensitive time for the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

See a comparison of public sector funding needs over the years (i.e. positive numbers require government contributions), taking into account the same period from January to August:

According to British Columbia data, the consolidated public sector in August recorded a primary deficit of R$21.4 billion, compared to a deficit of R$22.8 billion in the same month of 2023.

In the central government there was a deficit of R$22.3 billion, and in regional governments and state-owned enterprises, there was a surplus of R$435 million and R$469 million, respectively. In 12 months, the consolidated public sector accumulated a deficit of R$256.3 billion, equivalent to 2.26% of GDP and 0.03 percentage points smaller than the deficit accumulated in the 12 months to July.