Brazil

• Saturday, April 5th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Petrobras plans drilling off shore Mar del Plata in 2010

  Brazil's government managed oil corporation Petrobras Energia announced the investment of 2.4 billion US dollars in hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation in Argentina in the next four years.

• Friday, April 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Diversified markets have cut Brazil's exposure to US crisis

  Brazil's Foreign Secretary Celso Amorim said that those countries which have signed free trade agreement with United States are the most vulnerable to the consequences of the US housing and banking crisis, contrary to Brazil that has “diversified markets”.

• Friday, April 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil plan to increase wheat production and cut imports

  Brazil announced drastic plans to increase wheat production and cut its dependency on imported grain mainly from Argentina. The target is by 2012 to supply 60% of the domestic market. Brazil currently imports 80% of the wheat consumed by its population of 186 million.

• Thursday, April 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Real too strong, warn Brazil's panel of “wise-economists”

  

  Brazil's central bank must keep the benchmark interest rate unchanged for the time being and avert increases that would further strengthen the Real and derail an economic expansion, said two economic advisers of President Lula da Silva according to reports in the Sao Paulo financial press.

• Wednesday, April 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Petrobas begins operations with extra heavy oil

  

  Brazil's government managed oil corporation Petrobras announced Tuesday that its first oil rig designed to produce extra heavy petroleum went online on Tuesday. The special rig is located in the Badejo field in the Campos basin, off Rio do Janeiro according to a release from Petrobras.

• Wednesday, April 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Fears of inflation as Brazil's industrial output climb 9.7%

  Brazil's industrial output climbed 9.7% in February, the highest in the last four months and the 20th straight gain in year-on year industrial production according to the latest release from the government.

• Tuesday, April 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Petrobras/PDVSA building 200.000 bpd refinery in NE Brazil

  

  Brazil's oil government managed company Petrobras and government owned Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) signed on March 26 an agreement that sets the bases for the partnership between the two companies for the Abreu e Lima Refinery, in Northeastern Brazil.

• Monday, March 31st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Army joins dengue epidemic combat in Rio do Janeiro

  

  Brazilian Armed Forces joined on Monday the fight against dengue fever in Rio do Janeiro Monday setting up three field hospitals to combat an epidemic that has caused 54 deaths in 2008 and has surged to 1.4 new cases each minute.

• Saturday, March 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil announces new oil reserves

  A huge offshore oil discovery could raise Brazil's petroleum reserves by a whopping 40 percent and boost this country into the ranks of the world's major exporters, officials said.

• Thursday, March 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Strong economy boosts Lula da Silva's support to 58%

  

  Support for Brazilian President Lula da Silva's administration jumped to its highest level 58%, riding on a strong economy which has helped boost wages and jobs, a public opinion poll showed on Thursday.