In apparent defiance of the global economic problems, the Brazilian motor manufacturer WEG recorded a 33.2% surge in sales to R$582.4m (£145m) in the first half of this year. The company`s first-half profits grew by 50% to R$80.2m (£20m).

The growth in sales was partly a result of an energy shortage in Brazil which has led to rationing and is prompting motor users to upgrade their installations to high-efficiency motors and to invest in generators, which WEG also produces.

WEG, Latin America`s largest motor manufacturer with an output of more than 7m machines a year, also increased its exports which now account for 30% of its sales. In addition to five factories in Brazil and one in Argentina, WEG has a former ABB plant in Mexico making machines mainly for the US market where it expects to achieve sales of around $60m this year.

WEG`s UK subsidiary, based in Redditch, has recently reached an agreement to supply motors to all 70 of the European plants operated by the agricultural supplier, Cargil.