Brasília – The Brazilian balance of trade posted a deficit (exports exceeded by imports) in October, following back-to-back surpluses in August and September. The deficit amounted to US$ 224 million, as a result of US$ 22.8 billion in exports and US$ 23 billion in imports. It is the worst result for the month since 2000, according to figures released this Friday (1st) by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. Year-to-date, Brazil’s trade deficit stands at US$ 1.8 billion, the highest for the period since 1998, when the country posted a US$ 5 billion deficit year-to-date through October.
Exports averaged at US$ 992.3 million a day in October, up 0.3% from October 2012 and down 0.8% from September this year. Industrialized goods exports were up 9.1% October-on-October. One of the reasons was the exporting of an oil rig worth US$ 1.9 billion. On the import end, the highlight was the increase in fuel and lubricant purchases (68.5%). Imports of consumer goods (5.3%) and of raw materials and intermediate goods (1.8%) also increased.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
