Brazil’s trade balance at US$520 million surplus in third week of February

The Brazilian trade balance registered a US$520 million surplus in the third week of February 2020, as a result of exports worth US$3.966 billion and imports of US$3.446 billion. According to data released on February 27 by the Foreign Trade Secretariat of the Economic Ministry (Secex / ME), exports totaled US$12.364 billion, and imports US$11.259 billion in February, with a positive balance of US$1.105 billion.

Check the complete balance of trade data

Weekly Analysis 

Average exports for the third week were down 5.5% compared to the previous week at US$793.2 million. The reduction is due to the drop in exports of semi-manufactured goods (-10.7%) from US$100.1 million to US$89.4 million, and commodities (-8.5%) from US$450.2 million to US$412.1 million. Meanwhile, sales of manufactured products increased (+ 0.8%) from US$289.5 million to US$291.7 million.  Imports fell 11.8% during the same comparative period  to an average of US$ 689.1 million.

Monthly Analysis

Exports in the third week of February 2020 were up 4.8% year-on-year at US$824.3 million.  This was due to an increase in sales of commodities (+ 10.2%) from US$397.0 million to US$437.5 million. On the other hand, sales of semimanufactured products fell (-1.2%) from US$97.7 million to US$96.6 million, and manufactured products were down (-0.7%) from US$292.2 million to US$290.2 million.

In relation to January 2020, there was a 25.6% increase, due to the increase in sales of commodities (+ 33.9%) from US$326.8 million to US$437.5 million; and manufactured goods (+ 25.4%) from US$231.4 million to US$290.2 million, while exports of semi-manufactured products decreased (-1.7%) from US$ 98.2 million to US$96.6 million.

On the import side, the daily average during the third week of February 2020 was up 18.9% year-on-year at US $ 750.6 million. This was driven mainly by increased imports of mechanical equipment (+ 131.0%), fuels and lubricants (+ 19.0%), pharmaceuticals (+ 17.2%), organic and inorganic chemicals (+ 11.6% ), and plastics (+ 10.8%). In relation to January 2020, there was a 2.1% increase caused by increases in mechanical equipment (+ 83.0%), fuels and lubricants (+ 20.5%), pharmaceuticals (+ 10.3%), plastics (+ 6.7%), organic and inorganic chemicals (+ 5.8%).

Sharing is caring!