São Paulo – The third week of May saw Brazil run a USD 1.9 billion trade surplus, the result of USD 5.2 billion in exports and USD 3.3 billion in imports. Month to date, exports reached USD 14.1 billion and imports hit USD 9.1 billion, leading to a USD 5 billion surplus. Year-to-date, exports amounted to USD 88.7 billion, with imports at USD 63.3 billion, leading to a USD 25.3 billion surplus in trade.
Exports came out to USD 1 billion in the third week of May, down 4.9% from week two, with sales easing in all three product categories. Finished goods exports dropped by 9.1%, on the back of weaker sales of aircraft, plastic planks, sheets and strips, cargo vehicles, plastic polymers, flat-rolled iron and steel, refined sugar and aircraft engines and turbines.
Average daily semi-finished good exports slid 8.7%, driven by raw soya oil, semi-finished iron and steel, ferroalloys, wood pulp, copper matte, leather and hides. Basic goods exports dropped by 2%, with sales dropping for poultry, pork and beef, soybeans (pictured above), copper ore, soya bran, livestock and manganese ore.
Imports were down 6.5% in week three from week two, with purchases declining for pharmaceuticals, electric and electronic equipment, organic and inorganic chemicals, plastic and plastic products, mechanical equipment, aluminum and aluminum products, fuels and lubricants.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
