The values of Brazilian exports and imports up to November 2018 have already surpassed the performance of the whole of last year. In the 11-month period, exports totaled US $ 220 billion and, from January to December 2017, shipments totaled US $ 217.7 billion. Imports, which reached US $ 168.3 billion from January to November, also surpassed the closed year of 2017, whose purchases totaled US $ 150.7 billion.
Check here the complete trade balance data.
The result of the trade balance was released on Monday by the Secretary of Foreign Trade of MDIC, Abram Neto, at a press conference. “There has been a very strong increase in our sales of basic products, which are even coming from a record harvest this year, but there have also been a very positive performance of several other Brazilian exports products such as earthmoving and semimanufactured iron and steel, “he said.
Products such as iron ore and its concentrates, soybeans, crude oils and cellulose had a record export volume and value in the first 11 months of this year and contributed to the positive result, but the secretary also cited a series of actions that were taken in the area of trade facilitation that has given greater competitiveness to Brazilian exports.
According to Abrão Neto, an example of this is the World Bank’s Doing Business competitiveness report, which showed a significant advance this year in Brazil’s position with 33 positions. “And on the import side, the domestic market and the greater demand in Brazil have driven our foreign purchases, from intermediate products, inputs to industry and agriculture, capital goods and consumer goods,” he added. According to him, the import of passenger vehicles accumulates a growth of 50% in the year.
According to the secretary, the result reached until November shows that the Brazilian foreign trade is stronger, which has contributed to the generation of employment and income. “Despite an expressive surplus, but lower than in 2017, the performance of Brazilian foreign trade in 2018 surpasses the results of last year in quality and size, which contributes to the Brazilian economy,” he said.
Trade, which is the sum of exports and imports, by November (US $ 388.3 billion) also surpassed the value of 2017 (US $ 368.5 billion) a year. The trade balance recorded in 11 months was US $ 51.7 billion, “which confirms the forecast to close the year with a surplus of US $ 50 billion.”
Source: MDIC
