São Paulo – Brazilian exports in the second to last week of August totalled US$ 4.804 billion, with a daily average of US$ 960.8 million, a reduction of 2% over the average recorded up to the third week of the month, at US$ 980.7 million. The largest reduction was in aircraft and ethanol, plastic polymers and passenger vehicles, among others, had an 8.5% reduction in exports.
Basic products also presented reduction in exports, of 1.1%, mainly in sales of oil. However, there was growth in exports of partly manufactured products (9.3%), especially items like sugar, pulp and paper, partly manufactured gold, synthetic and artificial rubber.
Imports in the period totalled US$ 4.412 billion, with a daily average of US$ 882.4 million, 8% more than the daily average registered up to the third week of August (US$ 816.8 million). The main products bought by Brazil were mechanical equipment, electronic equipment, and cars and their parts, among others.
Despite the reduction of exports and the increase of international purchases, the trade balance last week was US$ US$ 392 million. Bilateral trade in the period totalled US$ 9.216 billion, with a daily average of US$ 1.843 billion.
In the accumulated result for the month, exports in the 18 working days up to August totalled US$ 17.553 billion, 14.3% less than in August 2011. In comparison with July this year, August exports are 2.1% greater.
*Translated by Mark Ament
