Brasília, 3 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - In spite of the slowdown in Brazil's exports this year, the trade surplus for the first half of 2002 is almost the same as the surplus was for all of last year. The foreign trade surplus for the first half of 2002 is now at US$2.606 billion, compared to US$2.647 billion for all of 2001.

According to Lytha Spindola, secretary for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, the result shows that Brazil can reach its target of an annual trade surplus of US$5 billion this year. (AB)