Browsing: Economy

Agência Brasil* Brasilia – Brazilian exports added up to US$ 2.24 billion in the third week of the month, with a drop in 4% in relation to the previous week. On the other hand, imports registered US$ 1.81 billion, 42.7% more in the same basis of comparison. With the result, the trade surplus in the

Agência Brasil Rio de Janeiro – The Energy Research Corporation (EPE) reports that total electricity consumption rose 6.5% in March, compared to March 2005. The EPE says the increase was boosted by strong residential consumption, which rose 7.5%, compared to an increase of 7.1% in the commercial sector. The number of residential consumers was up

The consortium formed between construction company Odebrecht, from Brazil, and Al-Jaber, from the United Arab Emirates, won a tender to build the second runway of Abu Dhabi International Airport. The contract is evaluated at US$ 285 million and works begin in one month.

The Cooperative Grande Sertão, from the city of Montes Claros in Brazil, invests in the production of varieties such as the fruits pequi and umbu and, in this way, improves the income of farmers and preserves the environment in the savannahs in midwestern and northeastern Brazil. Currently the production is of 80 tonnes of pulp per crop. The aim is to increase the production to 120 tonnes in 2007.

The money will be used to update technology and for the purchase of machinery and equipment, and will not only stay in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. Companies also plan to invest in other regions of Brazil and in other countries. Santa Catarina is one of the Brazilian states that export to the Arab world.

The investment will be made up to 2010, according to the Brazilian company. This is one of the alternatives to reduce dependence on the current main supplier, Bolivia. The company is also studying replacing natural gas for fuel oil.

From the Newsroom* São Paulo – The president of the United States, George W. Bush, asked the American congress, last week, to analyse suspending the import tariff on Brazilian ethanol. Currently it is of US$ 0.54 per gallon of 3.78 litres. "Ending the tariff will allow the import of foreign ethanol and this will help