Sharp Increase of Imports Cuts 10% in Brazil’s Trade Balance Surplus

Exports from Brazil totaled US$ 3.010 billion last week, a 9.6% drop as against the sales in the previous week. However, imports were much lower, reaching US$ 1.950 billion, with even greater reduction, of 31.82%.

The values were disclosed Monday, October 15, by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.

The table published by the govenment only shows the numbers but does not explain the reasons for this atypical movement in foreign trade.

It shows, however, that the trade balance surplus (exports minus imports) last week reached US$ 1.060 billion, with a record daily average of US$ 265 million a day, as the second week of the month only had four working days.

Despite the fewer working days as against the previous week, which had five, the trade balance surplus rose 119.46%, in comparison with US$ 483 million in the first week of the month.

The trade balance surplus for the whole of the month has reached US$ 1.543 billion, and in the year reaches US$ 32.490 billion, result of total exports of US$ 122.952 billion, against imports of US$ 90.462 billion.

However, this year to date there has been a reduction of US$ 3.855 billion, or 10.61%, in comparison with the trade balance surplus for the same period last year. This is due to foreign purchases having risen 28.98%, while exports rose just 15.47%.