São Paulo – Brazilian exports were down 3.2% June on June, according to information released this Tuesday (1st) by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. Exports grossed US$ 20.4 billion, averaging at US$ 1.2 billion a day, the best average so far this year. The trade surplus was US$ 2.365 billion, the fourth highest in 2014, and the best result for June since 2011.
June on June, basic goods sales were up 9.5%, manufactured goods sales were down 19.3% and semi-manufactured goods sales were down 1.9%. In manufactured goods, the decline was mostly due to the fact that no oil rigs were sold in June this year, whereas US$ 1.6 billion worth of rigs were sold in June 2013; automobile sales were down 42.5%; ethanol sales were down 40.8%; and auto parts were down 31.4%.
Semi-manufactured goods exports declined mostly as a result of lower sales of semi-manufactured gold, down 43%; and raw sugar, down 19.1%. Regarding semi-manufactured goods, crude oil exports were up 94.7%, pork was up 78.1%, soy bran was up 48.5%, coffee bean was up 47,2%, beef was up 21.7% and soybean exports were up 3.9%.
Sales declined by 44.8% to Latin American and Caribbean countries (Mercosur not included), 15.3% to Africa, 2.8% to the Mercosur and 2% to Asia. Brazilian exports increased by 39.8% to Eastern Europe, 25.7% to the Middle East, 15.4% to the European Union and 3.5% to the USA.
In the case of Africa, where some Arab countries are located, exports dropped due to crude soy oil, meats, refined sugar, rice, auto parts, tobacco leaves, petroleum coke, chassis and engines, engines and generators, pumps and compressors, nitrogen-based compounds, flat-rolled steel and furniture. And the Middle East, where other Arab countries are located, the increase in exports was mostly due to sugar, iron ore, soy bran, soybean, aluminium oxides and hydroxides, engines, maize and machines.
Exports also declined year-to-date through June, by 2.6% from the same period in 2013, and stood at US$ 110.5 billion. The trade balance posted a US$ 2.4 billion deficit in the period. The deficit, however, is lower than year-to-date through June 2013’s US$ 3.07 billion.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
