São Paulo – Exports from Brazil reached USD 4.117 billion in the third week of August, the Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services reported this Monday (21). Imports amounted to USD 2.785 billion, leading to a USD 1.332 billion trade surplus for the country.
Exports averaged at USD 823,400 per business day last week, up 6.9% from the second week of the month. Foreign sales were up by 16.1% for finished goods, including automobiles, aircraft, fuel oil, refined sugar and gasoline. Basic goods exports climbed by 4.1% on the back of crude oil, maize, soya bran, coffee and livestock.
Foreign sales of semi-finished goods slid by 10.8% as per daily average numbers, driven by weaker sales of semi-finished gold products, raw soya oil, cast iron, raw sugar, leather and hides.
Imports declined by 12.3% to USD 557 million on average per day last week, the Ministry reported. Imports went down for fertilizers, customer electronics, iron and steel industry products, organic and inorganic chemicals, mechanical equipment, plastic and plastic products.
Month-to-date, average exports per day were up 6.9% year-on-year, with sales increasing across the board – by 10.1% for basic goods, 3% for semi-finished goods, and 5.4% for finished goods. Imports increased by 8.7%.
Month-to-date through the third week of August, Brazil exported USD 11.05 billion worth of goods, with imports amounting to USD 8.502 billion, and leading to a USD 2.548 billion trade surplus. Year-to-date, Brazil ran a USD 45.058 billion surplus stemming from USD 137.521 billion in exports and USD 92.463 billion in imports.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum