ISTANBUL

Brazil’s industrial production expanded 1.1% in March, according to data released Wednesday.

The figure came in higher than the market expected -- a 0.8% increase, following a 0.2% contraction in February.

Computer equipment, electronic and optical products posted a monthly increase of 6.7%, while machines and equipment rose 5.1% and petroleum products and biofuels gained 1.7%, according to the country’s Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

Industrial production expanded 0.9% in March.

The market expectation for the annual figure was an increase of 0.4%, after plummeting 2.4% in February year-on-year.