03/03/2009 15h06
Imports fall, and trade balance surplus returns
Folha de S. Paulo - 03/03/2009
The Brazilian trade balance started having surplus again in February, after the deficit registered in January. The result, which will influence positively in the external accounts of the country, is a consequence of the fall in the imports. The exports also fell if compared to February 2008, but at a pace slower than the external purchases. The trade balance surplus of February was US$ 1.7 billion, more than the double of the surplus obtained in the same month of last year. In the same comparison, the exports fell 20.9%, amounting to US$ 9.5 billion, whereas the imports fell 30.9%, to US$ 7.8 billion. For the government, the numbers of the foreign trade were a reason for commemoration since they showed recovery if compared to those from January, when the trade balance was negative at US$ 524 million. With the performance of February, the balance of trade started having a surplus in the year again: US$ 1.2 billion. He emphasized another piece of data he considers positive: In February, the amounts of products exported fell less than the prices, which indicates the exporters were able to keep their foreign clients. In January, there was the opposite effect: the amount exported had fallen more than the price. The vice-president of the AEB (Brazilian Association of Foreign Trade) José Augusto de Castro, points out that the positive result of February is the result of the falls, both in the exports and in the imports. For him, the trade balance this year will end with a surplus as a result of lesser imports, instead of more exports. "In the current situation of the world economy, in which many countries will face commercial deficit, the Brazilian surplus will already be a good result", said Castro. He expects a positive result of US$ 17 billion this year. The average projection of the financial market, according to a survey of the Central Bank released yesterday, is of commercial surplus of US$ 13 billion this year. In 2008, the trade balance was positive at US$ 24.7 billion.
