Rio de Janeiro, Feb 7 (IANS/EFE): A total of 279,332 automobiles were manufactured in Brazil in January, up 31.9 percent from the same month of 2012 and 7.7 percent more than in December, an industry association said Wednesday.

That represents the highest total for a month of January since data began to be tallied, said Anfavea, which represents the Brazilian subsidiaries of leading US, European and Asian automakers.

The truck sector saw the biggest jump in output, with production soaring from 3,438 units in January 2012 to 12,705 units in the first month of 2013.

The number of light commercial vehicles manufactured rose to 263,505 units, up 27.1 percent from January 2012, while a total of 3,122 buses were produced, a 190 percent increase.

A total of 311,453 vehicles were sold in Brazil in January, up 16.11 percent compared to the same month last year, though down 13.32 percent relative to December 2012.

Vehicle production in Brazil fell 1.9 percent year-on-year in 2012 to 3.34 million vehicles, while sales climbed 4.6 percent relative to 2011 to a record 3.8 million units, Anfavea said early last month.

The industry association is forecasting a 4.5 percent increase in output this year to 3.5 million units and an up to 4.5 percent rise in sales to 4 million vehicles.

Anfavea, however, said it expects a 4.6 percent decline in vehicle exports.