São Paulo – Brazilian exports fetched US$ 3.666 billion in the third week of February, averaging at US$ 733.2 million per business day, up 1.6% from the average in the first two weeks of the month, as per figures released by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade this Monday (24th).
Imports stood at US$ 4.312 billion, averaging at US$ 862.4 million per day, down 6.8% using the same basis of comparison. As a result, the Brazilian trade deficit amounted to US$ 646 million last week and at US$ 2.687 billion month-to-date, as against US$ 2.041 billion in the first two weeks of February.
According to the ministry, manufactured goods exports increased, especially auto parts, autos, frozen orange juice, vehicle engines and parts, refined sugar and cargo vehicles.
However, semi-manufactured and basic goods exports declined, especially wood pulp, ferroalloys, leather, semi-manufactured gold, cast iron, crude aluminium, iron ore, and meats.
Imports declined for mechanical equipment, autos and their parts, organic and inorganic chemicals, plastic and plastic products, and iron and steel products.
Month-to-date, exports stood at US$ 10.88 billion, down 16% from February based on daily average figures. Imports stood at US$ 13.567 billion, down 3.3%. The daily averages for both exports and imports have declined in February from January 2014.
Year-to-date, exports stand at US$ 26.906 billion, down 3.7% from the same period in 2013 based on daily averages, and imports stand at US$ 33.651 billion, up 0.6%. The trade deficit stands at US$ 6.745 billion, up 46.57% from the same period in 2013.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
