Stênio Ribeiro
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - Brazil's exports in May totaled US$ 10.275 billion, while imports amounted to US$ 7.247 billion. The resulting trade surplus of US$ 3.028 was 2.23% less than in April and 12.43% less than in May, 2005.

The statistics for the trade balance (exports minus imports) were announced yesterday (1) by the Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade. The figures show that this year's cumulative trade surplus attained US$ 15.464 billion through May, 1% less than last year's cumulative surplus over the same period.

This year's surplus is composed of exports worth US$ 49.466 billion (up 13.8% in comparison with 2005) and imports worth US$ 34.002 billion (up 22.1%). The greater increase on the import side in recent months explains the decrease in the surplus.

Over the past 12 months, exports totaled US$ 124.303 billion, while imports came to US$ 79.725 billion, for a surplus of US$ 44.578 billion.

Translation: David Silberstein