São Paulo – Exports from Brazil came out to USD 3.287 billion last week, while imports amounted to USD 2.701 billion, leading to a USD 586 million trade surplus. The figures were made public this Monday (16). The week was shorter due to the October 12 holiday, the day of Our Lady Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil.
On average per business day, exports were down 18.8% from the week before, with weaker sales of items including crude oil, iron ore, maize, copper ore, manganese ore, wood pulp, raw sugar, raw aluminum, semi-finished iron and steel products, ferroalloys, and copper cathodes.
Conversely, sales increased for finished goods including flat-rolled products, taps, valves and their parts, earthmoving machinery and equipment, aluminum oxides and hydroxides, motors and electric generators.
Average daily imports were up 6.9% week-on-week, driven by aircraft and their parts, electrical-electronic equipment, fuels and lubricants, cereals and milling industry products, and fertilizers.
Month-to-date, average daily exports were up 35.2% from October 2016, with imports going up 14.4%. Foreign sales fetched USD 8.344 billion and foreign purchases came out to USD 5.858 billion, leading to a USD 2.487 billion surplus.
Year-to-date through the second week of October, exports reached USD 172.948 billion and imports reached USD 117.186 billion, with the ensuing trade surplus at USD 55.762 billion.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
