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Brazil posts trade surplus in February, as imports plummet with a weak Real

Wednesday, March 2nd 2016 - 22:39 UTC
Full article 11 comments
Brazil posted a $3.04 billion trade surplus in February, the Trade Ministry said on Tuesday. Brazil exported $13.3 billion last month and had imports of $10.3 billion. Brazil posted a $3.04 billion trade surplus in February, the Trade Ministry said on Tuesday. Brazil exported $13.3 billion last month and had imports of $10.3 billion.

Brazil posted a $3.04 billion trade surplus in February, the Trade Ministry said on Tuesday. Brazil exported $13.3 billion last month and had imports of $10.3 billion.Analysts are expecting a $40 billion trade surplus for 2016, according to a central bank survey released Monday.

 Brazil mainly exports commodities such as iron-ore, soybeans, oranges, sugar and meat. The recent decline in global commodity prices hurt trade, but a sharp fall in imports more than offset that factor on the overall trade balance.

Brazilians are buying less from abroad as a result of the currency's sharp depreciation. The Brazilian real weakened around 40% over the past year.

Containerized exports from China to Brazil of goods ranging from automotives to textiles fell 60% in January compared with a year earlier as the weak Real limits Brazilians’ ability to buy imported goods, according to Maersk Line, the world’s largest shipping company.

Containerized exports from Brazil into Asia, mainly China, increased by 13% for dry goods and 18% for refrigerated goods in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with a year earlier, the shipping line said.

Statistics from Brazil’s ministry of development, industry and trade show overall total trade between China and Brazil in 2015 was $66.3bn, down from a record high of $83.3bn in 2013.

Categories: Economy, Brazil.
Tags: Brazil.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • T_Paine

    Whew those numbers are frightening.

    Glug glug glug

    Mar 02nd, 2016 - 11:22 pm 0
  • Skip

    Why?

    A weaker currency promotes exports and makes imports expensive. It is the benefit of a weaker currency.

    It can, not saying it will in Brazil's case, potentially lead to import substitution and the creation of new export markets.

    It is not all rosy news out of IS and the opposite in every other country, no matter how narrow-minded and deluded you are.

    Mar 03rd, 2016 - 03:56 am 0
  • L0B0MAU

    May be by 2'016-End, the export-figures can improve further when US$ reaches R$ 5 or higher.

    Mar 03rd, 2016 - 10:54 am 0
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