Brasília – The Brazilian balance of trade showed a US$ 119 million deficit from June 18 to 22, according to figures disclosed today (25th) by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. The deficit resulted from US$ 4.075 billion in exports and US$ 4.194 billion in imports during the period.
Month-to-date as of the 22nd, exports reached US$ 14.135 and imports reached US$ 14.190 billion, resulting in a US$ 55 million deficit. Exports dropped by 16.5% compared with the same period of last year. The decline has been ascribed to lower sales across three product categories: semi-manufactured goods (-27.2%), manufactured goods (-19.8%) and basic goods (-11%).
Spending on imports increased by 2.7% compared with June 2011. The increase was mostly due to fuels and lubricants (+25.8%), aircraft and their parts (+23.1%), fertilizers (+18.5%), steel products (+9.7%) and mechanical equipment (+3.8%).
From January to June, exports have reached US$ 111.996 billion and imports have reached US$ 105.785 billion, resulting in a US$ 6.211 billion surplus on the Brazilian side.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
