Reining in the real.(BRAZIL)

Economists expect Brazil's growth to moderate in 2011 to about 5.5% GDP growth, compared with last year's growth of more than 7%. High on the list of Brazilian chemical producers concerns will be the increasing value of the Brazilian currency, the real rising costs of raw materials, and stiff competition from imports.

Economists expect strong domestic consumption to outstrip domestic manufacturing, which, combined with increasing consumer purchasing power from a strengthening real, will create a situation ripe for encouraging a sharp rise in imports. Brazil's incoming President Dilma Rousseff is not expected to install policies that are much different from those of her …