Roberta Lopes
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - According to the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, in June Brazil's trade surplus reached US$4.082 billion. Exports closed out the month at US$11.435 billion, a record for June, and imports reached US$7.353 billion, another record for the month of June.

The biggest buyers of Brazilian goods in June were: the United States with US$2.056 billion; Argentina US$958 million; China US$861 million; Holland US$494 million and Germany US$458 million.

The cumulative surplus for the first six months of 2006 is now at US$19.541 billion.

The ministry reports that Brazilian exports to the Middle East have risen 31.8% this year; to China 33.6%; to Latin America, less Mercosur, 23.4%; to Asia 18.3%; to Africa 16.3%; Mercosur 15.9%, the United States 14.6%; and the European Union 7%.

The ministry says it maintains its forecast for a total trade surplus of US$40 billion this year.

Translation: Allen Bennett