São Paulo – The Brazilian balance of trade remained low in early August. According to figures issued this Monday (6th) by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade in the first week of the month, which had three working days, exports reached US$ 2.813 billion, at a daily average of US$ 937.7 million, down 1.8% from the average for July, and 17.6% from the average for August of last year.
Imports reached US$ 2.355 billion, at US$ 785 million per working day, down 4.7% from the average for July, and 18.9% from August 2011. The country posted a US$ 458 million surplus in the first week of the month.
Compared with August of last year, there was a decline in daily average exports of semi-manufactured goods (33%), basic goods (16.2%) and manufactured goods (11.1%). Compared with July 2012, there was a decline in exports of semi-manufactured goods (17.2%) and an increase in exports of basic goods (2.4%) and manufactured goods (0.9%).
On the other hand, both August-on-July and August-on-August, there was a decline in imports of fuels and lubricants, fertilizers, rubber and rubber works, optical and precision instruments, and steel products.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
