Exports grow, and balance starts to have a positive result in the year again
Folha de S. Paulo 02/17/2009
The Brazilian exports showed some recovery in the first fifteen days of this month compared to January's results, and the outstanding balance in the accumulated of the year was positive again. According to data of the Minister of Development, Brazil's sales abroad amounted to US$ 5.101 billion in this period (daily average of US$ 510.1 million). The result represents a 9.5% high compared to January's average, but it is still 24.3% lower than the one registered in February of 2008. Imports amounted to U$ 4.405 billion in the two weeks of the month, with a daily average of US$ 440.5 million - fall of 10.2% compared to this year's January and 30% compared to the average of February of 2008. The outstanding trade balance accumulated in the month is US$ 696 million. Last week, the balance registered exports of US$ 2.361 billion and imports of US$ 2.136 billion - a surplus of US$ 225 million. In the accumulated of the year, the balance shows an outstanding balance of US$ 172 million. In spite of being positive, by the daily average criterion, the surplus fell 91.3% compared to the same period of 2008. In the year, the Brazilian exports amount to US$ 14.883 billion, a figure that is 22.3% lower than the one from the same period of 2008. The imports fell 14.3% and total US$ 14.711 billion. Analysts heard by the Central Bank estimate that the trade balance will close the year at US$ 14 billion. The result would represent a fall of 43% over the result of 2008 (US$ 24.7 billion, a retraction of 38.2% in relation to the outstanding balance of the previous year). Last year, exports amounted to US$ 197.9 billion (an increase of 23.2%), and imports to US$ 173.2 billion (increase of 43.6%). In view of the instability of the international situation, the Minister of Development said, during the announcement of the data of 2008, that the first quarter of this year would be "very difficult" for the foreign trade.