Brasília – Brazilian exports set a new record for January, reaching USD 19.6 billion. It was the highest amount since the beginning of the historical series of the trade balance, in 1989, surpassing the previous record, of USD 16.7 billion, in January 2018. On a daily average, foreign sales rose 25% over the same month in 2021.
Despite this outcome, the trade balance recorded a deficit of USD 176 million, driven by global energy prices. This is the third year in a row in which imports have exceeded exports in the first month of the year, traditionally denoted by trade deficits. Despite the negative result, the deficit was 20% lower than in January 2021, when Brazil imported BRL 220 million (about USD 41 million at the current rate) more than it exported.
Imports totaled USD 19.849 billion, a 24.6% increase compared to last year’s same month, also on a daily average. The figure was the third-highest for January since 1989, losing only to 2014 (USD 20.238 billion) and 2013 (USD 20.157 billion).
Sectors
In January, agriculture and manufacturing recorded gains in sales abroad. Agricultural exports expanded 97.5% in January compared to last year’s same month. The determining factor was the recovery of the soybean crop (pictured above), which made exports leap 5,007% in the period.
Sales in the manufacturing industry advanced 36.1% in January compared to the same month in 2020. The highlights were fuels (120.7%), vegetable fats and oils (1,106.2%), and semi-finished iron or steel products (179.7%). Hampered by the drop in the international prices for some ores, exports from the extractive industry fell 18.6% relative to January last year.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro