Brasília – Bilateral trade in goods and services between Brazil and the rest of the world – aka current account transactions – had a US$ 6.901 billion deficit in April. In the first four months of the year, the deficit stands at US$ 32.462 billion. In the comparable period of last year, the deficit was higher, at US$ 9.19 billion in April and US$ 37.073 billion in the four-month period. The current account data were issued this Tuesday (26th) by the Central Bank.
The April deficit was driven by the country’s financial account, which comprises inbound and outbound foreign investment. Another factor was the services account, comprising international travel, transportation, equipment rental and insurance. The trade balance, in turn, had a US$ 280 million surplus. In the whole of 2014, Brazil had a US$ 90.9 billion current account deficit, the highest yearly deficit ever, exceeding the previous record from 2013. The Central Bank projects current account transactions to show a US$ 84 billion deficit by the end of 2015.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
