São Paulo – Brazilian exports increased by 17% in the first week of July, according to information released by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. The increase took place in the first four business days of July this year, which saw US$ 1.058 billion worth of exports, compared with the average for July 2013, which was US$ 904.7 million. Total exports from Brazil amounted to US$ 4.2 billion in the first four business days of July this year.
Compared with daily average exports in July 2013, semi-manufactured goods exports were up 32.9%, mostly due to iron and steel, raw sugar, and leathers and hides. Basic goods exports also increased, by 31%, mostly due to soybeans, crude oil, copper ore, coffee bean, beef and livestock. Manufactured goods exports dropped by 3.9%.
Year-to-date through the first week of July this year, Brazilian exports stood at US$ 114.7 billion. The daily average was US$ 910.8 million, down 2.2% from the average in the same period of 2013, which was US$ 931.4 million. In the same period, imports stood at US$ 115.9 billion, averaging at US$ 920.4 million a day, and down 3.5% from the average in the same period of 2013, which was US$ 953.9 million, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.
In the first week of July, imports amounted to US$ 2.9 billion, averaging at US$ 736.3 million. The average import figure is down 25.4% from July 2013, mostly due to fuels and lubricants, automobiles and their parts, mechanical equipment, rubber and rubber products, iron and steel products and electronic devices.
Last week, the trade balance showed a US$ 1.2 billion surplus. Year-to-date through the first week of July, however, there is a US$ 1.2 billion deficit. The deficit, on the other hand, is much lower than the one recorded in the same period of 2013, which was US$ 2.8 billion.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
