Agência CNI*
Fortaleza – The northeastern Brazilian state of Ceará exported US$ 309 million in the first quarter of 2008, growth of 16.7% over the same period last year. With the result, the difference between exports of Ceará and Maranhão (the second main exporter in the northeast) dropped from US$ 234.1 million in 2007 to US$ 97.2 million this year.
However, the trade balance of the state of Ceará in the period was negative, US$ 55.4 million due to an 89.7% increase in imports, which reached US$ 364.4 million. These figures are part of the Ceará State Forex report, elaborated by the International Business Centre (CIN) at the Federation of Industries of the State of Ceará (FIEC).
In March sales reached US$ 97.7 million, 12.5% over March 2007, when the total was US$ 86.9 million. Despite the growth of exports, Ceará remains with 0.8% participation in Brazilian exports. This caused the state to drop one position among the main Brazilian exporters, to the 14th position.
Diversification of the export basket grew 9.3% in the first quarter of 2008 when compared to the same period in 2007, reaching 436 products. Among the 15 main export sectors are flowers and lobsters, which posted the most expressive growths in exports (110.4% and 128.5%, respectively) when compared to the first quarter of 2007.
Imports into the state of March reached US$ 86.9 million, 50.4% over that registered in March 2007 (US$ 57.8 million). In the first three months of 2008, there was growth of 89.7% in imports over the same period last year. With this result, imports from the state of Ceará grew to 1% of Brazilian purchases, 0.2 percentage point over exports.
*Translated by Mark Ament
