São Paulo – Brazilian exports amounted to US$ 4.91 billion last week, averaging at US$ 981.8 million per day, up 0.2% from the average for the first two weeks of August, according to figures released this Monday (20th) by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. There was an increase in exports of basic products (3.4%) and a decline in exports of manufactured goods (1.1%) and semi-manufactured goods (10.4%).
Imports amounted to US$ 4.335 billion last week, averaging at US$ 867 million per day, up 18.9% using the same basis of comparison. According to the ministry, there was an increase in imports of fuels and lubricants, mechanical equipment, appliances, motor vehicles and their parts, chemicals, fertilizers, and steel products. The trade balance showed a surplus of US$ 574 million.
Month-to-date as of last week, exports have reached US$ 12.75 billion, averaging at US$ 980.7 million per working day, up 2.7% from the average in July. Compared with August of last year, exports were down 13.8%.
Imports reached US$ 10.62 billion, averaging at US$ 816.8 million per working day, down 0.9% from the average figure for last month, and down 15.6% from August 2011. The trade surplus stands at US$ 2.13 billion.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
