December 9, 2024
Reading time • 5 min
Illegal trade moves R$4.5 billion in Rio’s metropolitan region
The illegal market moves R$4.5 billion a year in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, according to research released on Monday (9) by the Fecomércio Institute for Research and Analysis (IFec RJ) of the Rio de Janeiro State Federation of Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism. According to Fecomércio, the figure exceeds by around R$1 billion the total of purchases made on all commemorative dates, such as Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day and Children’s Day, as well as Black Friday and Easter.
The survey, which interviewed 981 consumers in the metropolitan region on November 13, 14, 21 and 22, was presented last week at the last meeting this year of Fecomercio RJ’s Council to Combat the Illegal Market.
According to the study, 55.2% of those interviewed reported that they had bought products on the informal market at least once in their lives. “The average monthly cost of buying these products is R$129. The estimated financial turnover per month is R$376.7 million,” the IFec RJ study showed.
The survey also indicated that 67.9% of consumers consider that buying products from the informal market has a negative impact on the state’s economy. However, the influence of this damage is not limited to the direct economic effect. For 64% of those interviewed, the purchase favors an increase in crime and violence.
Another highlight of the study is the interviewees’ conclusion that among the solutions to solve the problem of piracy are “employment, education, reducing the tax burden and combating cargo theft”.
The federation of the sector in Rio pointed out that recently, another IFec RJ survey showed that 49.1% of business owners in the center of Rio revealed that “cargo theft has a negative impact on their business,” it said in a statement, adding that in 2023, 42.1% had this opinion.
Fecomércio RJ
With the intention of encouraging business development in the sector in Rio, the organization brings together 59 employers’ unions, business leaders, experts and consultants.
In total, Fecomercio RJ represents more than 286,000 establishments, which account for two thirds of the state’s economic activity and 70% of its businesses. As a result, it generates more than 1.8 million formal jobs, which correspond to 61% of all jobs in the state.
