São Paulo – The Middle East was the bloc whose sales to Brazil grew the most in October. According to figures disclosed this Tuesday (1st) by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, imports of products from the region amounted to US$ 959 million, i.e. US$ 48 million on average per working day, 112% more than the daily average for October 2010.
According to the ministry, the increase was a result of imports of oil, fuels and lubricants. The ministry informed that the imported value and volume has increased for oil, gasoline, oil fuels, natural gas, coal, and naphtha. This was the group of products whose shares of total Brazilian imports grew the most last month.
Africa ranked second in the list of regions whose sales to Brazil grew the most in October. Imports from the continent stood at US$ 1.203 billion, i.e. US$ 60.2 million on average per working day, 35.3% more than the daily average for the same month of last year. The performance was also driven by oil sales.
Overall, Brazilian imports reached US$ 19.785 billion, 19.5% more than in October 2010. There was an increase in imports of fuels and lubricants (64.1%), consumer goods (17.2%), raw materials and intermediate goods (11.8%) and capital goods (10.3%).
Brazilian exports stood at US$ 22.14 billion, 20.45% more than in the same month of last year, resulting in a US$ 2.355 billion surplus, nearly 30% higher than in October 2010.
Year-to-date, Brazilian exports stood at US$ 212.14 billion, nearly 30% more than in the same period of 2010. Imports stood at US$ 186.749 billion, 25.5% more using the same basis of comparison.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum