São Paulo – Brazil ran a USD 1.766 billion surplus in the second week of January, according to data from the Brazilian Ministry of Economy’s Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex). Exports fetched USD 5.406 billion, while imports amounted to USD 3.64 billion. Year-to-date through week two – January, foreign sales hit USD 9.224 billion, with foreign purchases coming out to USD 5.613 billion and an ensuing USD 3.611 billion surplus.
Exports averaged USD 1.081 billion per day in the second week of this month, down 15.1% from the first week, driven by a 45.2% drop in exports of basic goods like crude oil, iron ore, soya bran, copper ore, poultry and beef, and tobacco leaves; and a 23.7% drop in semi-finished goods, including ferroalloys, wood pulp, semi-finished gold, semi-finished iron and steel, copper cathodes and raw sugar.
Finished goods exports climbed 46.1% on the back of an oil rig, earthmoving machinery and devices, flexible iron or steel pipes, orange juice, and fuel oils.
Imports were up 10.7% week-on-week and averaged USD 728 million per day on week two, with a hike in purchases of fuels and lubricants, mechanical equipment, autos and auto parts, fertilizers, rubber, plastics and plastic products.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
