Brasília – Brazil’s current account transactions, which records foreign purchases of goods and services, registered a deficit of US$ 5.403 billion in April, informed the Central Bank of Brazil on Wednesday (24). This is the worst result ever recorded in the month. The value was little over the total expected by the Central Bank, which was US$ 5.2 billion. The deficit was also greater than that registered in April 2011 (US$ 3.598 billion).
From January to last month, the negative balance was US$ 17.490 billion, as against US$ 18.376 billion in the same period in 2011.
This calculation includes the trade balance, which had a surplus of US$ 882 million in April and US$ 3.319 billion in the first for months of the year.
Another figure is that for the service balance (international trips, transport, equipment rent and others), which recorded a deficit of US$ 3.236 billion last month and US$ 12.647 billion from January to April.
In the revenue account (transfer of profits and dividends, payment of interest and wages), there was a negative result of US$ 3.214 billion in April, and US$ 9.019 in the accumulated result for the year.
Unilateral current account transfers (donations and dollar transfers from the country to the foreign market, with no counterpart in goods and services) recorded a net inflow of US$ 165 million last month and of US$ 857 million from January to April.
When the country has a current account deficit, or spends more than it collects, it is necessary to finance this result with foreign investment or borrowing money abroad.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), turned to the productive sector of the economy, was US$ 4.669 billion last month. The result is below Central Bank projections, of US$ 5 billion. From January to April, FDI reached US$ 19.608 billion.
*Translated by Mark Ament
