São Paulo – Brazilian exports totaled USD 2.922 billion in January’s first week, with imports registering USD 3.072 billion, which resulted in a trade deficit of USD 150 million, according to data released this Monday (11th) by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC). Last year, the Brazilian trade balance posted a surplus of USD 19.681 billion, the highest since 2011.
Exports averaged USD 584.4 million daily last week, 10.4% below the average registered in January 2015. According to the MDIC, there was a decline in shipments of finished products (-16.7%), especially auto parts, refined sugar, auto engines, fuel oils, aircrafts and tires.
The sales of basic goods also declined (-8.7%), especially wheat, coffee, iron ore, crude oil, poultry and meat. Meanwhile, exports of semi-finished products declined 1.8%, with negative highlight to cast iron, crude soy bean oil, ferro-alloys, copper cathodes, hides, semi-finished iron and steel products and raw sugar.
Imports averaged USD 614.4 million daily in the first week of 2016, a decline of 23.5% over the average of last year’s January. There was a decline in purchases of fuel and lubricants (-85.8%), steel products (-50.9%), autos and auto parts (-42%), electronics (-35.7%), rubber goods (-31.2%) and plastic products (-26.2%).
In comparison to December 2015, average daily exports declined 23.4% last week, while average daily imports increased 28.2%.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
