The balance is the result of a difference between exports, which totaled US$ 8.768 billion, and imports, which reached US$ 8.033 billion.
Of the three weeks, only the first resulted in a deficit (US$ 172 million). From the second week on, recovery was identified, with a positive balance of US$ 691 million in the second and US$ 216 million in the third.
From January to the third week of February this year, the trade surplus is US$ 569 million. In January, there was a trade deficit of US$ 166 million. Thus, the preliminary accumulated balance this year is 31.4% lower than that registered in the same period in 2009 (US$ 830 million).
This year, exports totaled US$ 20.073 billion and imports, US$ 19.504 billion, up to the third week of February.
The forecast of financial market analysts addressed by the Central Bank is that the trade surplus this year should reach US$ 10 billion and drop to US$ 1.6 billion next year. Last year, the trade surplus was US$ 25.348 billion.