Pessimism increases in the ICEI (Industrial Confidence Index) with 22 sectors lacking confidence.

The Confidence Index The Industrial Entrepreneur Index (ICEI) is an important tool that assists in analyzing the economic climate and in understanding industrialists' perceptions of their activities.

In this article, we will discuss the sectoral results of the ICEI (Industrial Confidence Index) for the year 2025, highlighting the growing wave of pessimism that has permeated various industrial sectors.

Using relevant data, we will analyze the indices for small, medium, and large industries, as well as present the regional variations that influence this panorama.

The survey, conducted with 1,684 companies, offers an accurate picture of the economic situation in different parts of Brazil.

Sectoral Results of the ICEI in 2025

The Sectoral Results of the Industrial Entrepreneur Confidence Index (ICEI) in 2025 reveal a challenging outlook, with 22 industrial sectors ending the year lacking confidence, an increase compared to the 17 sectors in the same situation in 2024. The overall ICEI trajectory shows a decline in small and medium-sized industries, with scores of 47.9 and 48.3 respectively, while large industries registered a slight increase, reaching 49.1 points.

The research covered a total of 1,684 companies, highlighting the breadth and representativeness of the data collected.

Performance by Industry Size in 2025

The performance of industries in 2025 varied according to company size.

Small industries registered 47.9 points. in the Industrial Entrepreneur Confidence Index (ICEI), signaling a lack of confidence.

For medium-sized industries, the situation was not much different, with a score of 48.3 points.

Large industries, on the other hand, saw a slight improvement, reaching 49.1 points.

These indices, however, remain below 50 points, which is an indication of a lack of optimism.

Reference to ICEI data.

The 50-point line on the ICEI It is crucial. because it acts as a dividing line between trust and lack thereof.

Results below this line indicate pessimism and insecurity within the industrial sector.

Despite some variations, all industrial size categories presented indices below this benchmark, highlighting challenges and uncertainties that permeate the expectations of the industrial sector.

This essential division allows for a clear analysis of the current perception of industrial entrepreneurs regarding future economic performance.

Regional Overview of the ICEI in 2025

O Northeast – 53.7 points It stood out as the only region with an optimistic Industrial Entrepreneur Confidence Index (ICEI) for 2025. In contrast, the Central-West region registered 50.7 points, placing it slightly above the caution line.

On the other hand, the Southeast and South revealed worrying levels of pessimism with scores of 47.2 and 45.8 points, respectively.

This marked difference between regions signals a significant economic variation.

Trust in North East This can be attributed to regional policies that encourage growth, while the more unfavorable scenario in the South and Southeast reflects specific challenges, such as infrastructure and costs.

A detailed analysis of the resulting factors helps to understand how regional strategies directly impact the confidence of industrial entrepreneurs.

The ICEI values by region are:

• Northeast – 53.7 points
• Central-West – 50.7 points
• Southeast – 47.2 points
• South – 45.8 points

ICEI 2025 Research Methodology

The research for the Industrial Entrepreneur Confidence Index (ICEI) in 2025 was conducted with 1,684 industries during the period of December 1st to 10th, 2025, ensuring accurate and comprehensive data collection.

This specific data collection period allowed us to capture an accurate picture of business owners' perceptions, reflecting the current state of industrial confidence at a crucial time of year.

The wide range of participants, comprising small, medium and large companies, ensures that the results are representative of the various industrial sectors.

Furthermore, the geographic scope of the sample contributes to a more comprehensive analysis of the regional variables that influence business confidence.

This structured and well-defined method strengthens the validity of the collected data, allowing for accurate annual comparisons and the identification of emerging trends in the Brazilian industrial landscape.

The ICEI methodology has proven to be a valuable tool for analyzing business confidence, which is essential for economic development.

In summary, the ICEI data reveals a significant increase in pessimism among industrial sectors in 2025, reflecting challenges that need to be addressed.