Agência Brasil*
Brasília – The Brazilian balance of trade posted a negative balance once again. According to figures disclosed today (28th) by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, during the fourth week of April, between the 21st and 27th, Brazilian imports surpassed exports by US$ 88 million. It was the fourth week in which a deficit was recorded this year, the first having been in February and two others in March.
In the accumulated result for the year so far, the balance of trade surplus stands at US$ 4.170 billion, 66.5% lower than in the same period of 2007, when it stood at US$ 12.771 billion.
In the fourth week of April, exports (sales) totalled US$ 2.761 billion and imports (purchases) amounted to US$ 2.849 billion. Growth of 4.9% and of 39.9%, respectively, compared with April 2006. The monthly surplus rose to US$ 1.333 billion, and the accumulated surplus for the year reached US$ 4.170 billion.
Between January and the fourth week of April, imports grew at a much higher rate than exports. Whereas in the average per business there was a 43.5% rise in imports, exports only grew 12.9%.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
