The trade balance surplus (exports minus imports) in April was US$ 1.744 billion, according to figures supplied by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. Exports reached US$ 14.059 billion and imports, US$ 12.315 billion.
After ending the fourth week of the month at a deficit of US$ 88 million, in the last week, a surplus of US$ 411 million was generated, with exports of US$ 2.313 billion and imports of US$ 1.902 billion.
In the accumulated result for the year, exports reached US$ 52.749 billion and imports US$ 48.169 billion, generating a trade balance surplus of US$ 4.580 billion, 64.5% lower than that registered in the same period last year (US$ 12.905 billion).
The reduction in the trade balance surplus is explained by the growth of imports at a greater level than that of exports. This is due to the weaker dollar against the Brazilian real, which stimulates the purchase of machinery and equipment abroad. Apart from that, the increase in income for Brazilians favors the purchase of imported products.
The daily average of Brazilian exports in the month of April 2008 (US$ 669.5 million) was 7.6% greater than that presented in the same month last year (US$ 622.3 million). Regarding the average daily performance in March this year (US$ 630.7 million), the growth of exports in April was 6.2%.
In the fifth week of April 2008, between the 28th and 30th (three working days), exports totaled US$ 2.313 billion (a daily average of US$ 771 million) and imports reached US$ 1.902 billion (daily average of US$ 634 million), a performance that resulted in a surplus of US$ 411 million (a daily average of US$ 137 million). In the period, bilateral trade reached US$ 4.215 billion.
ABr
