São Paulo – In the first two weeks of March, revenues from Brazilian exports reached US$ 6.477 billion, a daily average increase of 35.3% compared with the same month of 2010, according to figures disclosed this Monday (14th) by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade> Due to the Carnival holidays, there were only seven working days during the period.
Using the same basis of comparison, according to the ministry, there was growth of 47.6% in sales of basic goods. The main items shipped were copper ore, wheat, iron ore, maize, meats, coffee, and soy chaff.
Shipments of semi-manufactured goods grew 42.1% and the top export products were molten iron, semi-manufactured iron and steel products, soy oil, leathers, pulp, ferroalloys, and raw sugar.
Exports of manufactured goods have grown by 22% and the main items shipped were orange juice, fuel oils, plastic polymers, auto parts, refined sugar, and automobiles.
Still according to the ministry, imports reached US$ 5.636 billion, a 23% increase in the daily average compared with March 2010. There was growth in purchases of fertilizers, copper and metal items, plastics and plastic objects, mechanical equipment, vehicles and auto parts, fuels and lubricants, electric and electronic equipment.
A trade surplus of US$ 841 million was recorded, resulting in a daily average 310.6% higher than in March last year.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
