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Over the past 12 months, Brazil's foreign trade flows amounted to US$ 165.207 billion, with a US$ 35.099 billion surplus. Exports totaled US$ 100.153 billion, and imports, US$ 65.054 billion.
These figures represent historical records, according to the secretary of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Ivan Ramalho.
In the coming months, he observed, exports may experience a deceleration, but, at year's end, growth should come to 12% compared with last year's results.
So far this year (January and February), exports have totaled US$ 15.2 billion, an earnings record for this period, 31.9% more than during the same period in 2004. Imports grew 28.4%. Trade flows amounted to US$ 25.430 billion, also an historical record, according to Ramalho.
Between March, 2004, and February, 2005, exports increased 32.8%, and imports, 32.5%, on the basis of daily averages.
Exports in February came to US$ 7.756 billion, 35.5% more than in February, 2004, and 21.6% more than in January, 2005.
Imports totaled US$ 4.970 billion in February, 32.5% more than in February, 2004, and 10.2% more than in January, 2005.
There was an increase in sales in February to the Middle East, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, the United States, and the European Union, the secretary added.
Sales to the United States were up for steel products, machinery and equipment, aircraft, lumber, and vehicles, among others. Noteworthy among the items sold to Argentina are vehicles, as well, cell phones, iron ore, and machinery and equipment.
Translation: David Silberstein
Agência Brasil
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