Brasília – Brazilian current accounts saw a negative result in 2018. The deficit in current transactions reached USD 14.511 billion, according to data published this Monday (28) by the Central Bank. The number is almost two times the one registered in 2017, when the balance stood in negative USD 7.235 billion.
Trade surplus contributed with USD 53.587 billion to reduce the deficit in the current accounts. On the other hand, the service account (international travel, transport, investment rentals, among others) saw a USD 33.952 billion negative balance, while primary income (earnings and dividend actions, interest and wage payments) stood at USD 36.668 billion.
Secondary income (donations and US dollar remittances not involving the exchange of goods or services) posted a USD 2.522 billion positive result last year.
In 2018, foreign direct investments in Brazil reached USD 88.314 billion, more than enough to finance the current account deficit. In relation to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), investments stood at 4.7%, while the current accounts deficit represented 0.77% of the GDP. Direct investments in comparison with GDP reached a plateau since 2001 (4.79%).
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
