Brasília – The Brazil Commodities Index (IC-Br), calculated by the Brazilian Central Bank, was up 1.47% in December from the preceding month. In 2012, the index was up 10.51%, according to figures released today by the bank.
The IC-Br is calculated based on the variation, in real (Brazilian currency), of Brazilian commodities’ prices abroad. The Central Bank monitors the products which are relevant to the dynamics of domestic consumer prices.
In December, the metals sector (aluminium, iron ore, copper, tin, zinc, lead and nickel) saw the highest increase (7.25%). Agricultural commodities (beef and pork, cotton, soy oil, wheat, sugar, maize, coffee and rice) prices were up 0.73%. Energy sector commodities (oil, natural gas and coal) saw a 1.13% decline.
In December, the IC-Br increased by a lower rate than the Commodity Research Bureau international index (CRB), which was up 2%. Last year, the CRB index was up 14.16%.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
