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 In the third week of June, Brazil posted a trade surplus (positive balance) of US$ 346 million. Foreign sales reached US$ 4.097 billion and imports totaled US$ 3.751. In the accumulated result for the month so far, trade surplus stands at US$ 1.5 billion, and in the accumulated result for the year, US$ 10.156 billion.
In comparison with the period from January to June last year, the figures show that imports remained strong and recorded a significant growth, at 51.4% on average per business day, as against 24.2% on average per business day for exports. Trade surplus during the same period decreased 46.5%.
Thermoplastic Resins
Brazilian imports of thermoplastic resins grew 58% between January and May this year in comparison with the same period last year, according to figures disclosed by the Brazilian Chemical Industry Association (Abiquim). Apparent consumption in Brazil - the result of the sum of production and imports, minus exports - grew 12% during the period.
"Domestic demand for thermoplastic resins remained strong in May, the highlights being the segments of infrastructure, irrigation and durable goods," stated the coordinator at the Sectoral Commission for Thermoplastic Resins at Abiquim, Luiz de Mendonça, in a press release issued by the organization. Brazilian imports of the product reached a volume of 435,800 tons.
Domestic sales stood at 1.4 million tons from January to May this year, a volume 0.6% greater than recorded in the same period last year. In May alone, sales totaled 302,400 tons, growth of 8.2% over April.
In the month of May, production of thermoplastic resins in Brazil grew 8% in comparison with April. Total output stood at 356,600 tons. According to the Abiquim, the expansion is mostly due to the resumption of operations at the Braskem petrochemical centre in the city of Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul. The centre remained out of service during April for maintenance.
In the accumulated result for the year, until May, production decreased 6.7% compared with the same months of last year, having totaled 1.8 million tons. Taking into consideration only the month of May, imports decreased 6.6% in comparison with April, totalling 85.3 tons. Exports decreased as well, by 9.5%, to reach 50,000 tons. In the accumulated result for the year, foreign sales by the sector posted a decrease of 38.8% over the same period of 2007 and totaled 309,600 tons.
ABr/Anba
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