Brazil exported in March US$ 11.367 billion, and spent US$ 7.686 billion with external purchases, which resulted in a trade surplus of US$ 3.681 billion.
A 30.48% increase when compared to the previous month, and 10.11% more in relation to March of last year.
With these results, the trade balance in the first quarter of 2006 reached US$ 9.346 billion, which was 12.52% more (US$ 1.040 billion) than that of the same period of last year.
Exports totaled US$ 29.388 billion (+20.2%) and imports, US$ 20.042 billion (+24.1%), according to a bulletin issued this Monday, April 3, by Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, and External Trade.
Trade balance numbers show that the 12-month accumulated surplus (April/2005-March/2006) adds up to US$ 45.799 billion.
Greater, therefore, than the record of US$ 44.7 billion registered during 2005, in spite of all official and market projections that indicate a trade balance reduction this year, by at least 10%.
ABr