MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Record trade surplus in Brazil

Brazil's trade surplus reached 7,678 billon US dollars between January 1 and April 25, a significant increase over the 5,291 billion US dollars of the same period a year ago reported the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.

Exports so far this year totalled 24,394 billion US dollars and imports 16,716 billion US dollars.

According to a poll among Brazil's one hundred main financial institutions released this Monday by the Central Bank, market forces expect trade surplus this year to reach 25 billion US dollars, overtaking last year's record of 24,8 billion US dollars.

However for 2005 financial institutions believe the trade surplus will be in the range of 22 billion US dollars.