Brasília, 8/7/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The balance sheet for the Brazilian agrobusiness sector, from January to July, shows historical records being set in exports. This year's farm exports now total US$16.2 billion, compared to the former record for the period of US$14 billion in 1997. And for the last 12 months there is another record: cumulative exports, from July 2002 to July 2003, totalling US$28.7 billion, an increase of 27%, compared to the prior 12-month period.

July 2003 exports reached US$2.594 billion, second only to July 1997 (US$2.636 billion). The trade surplus for the month was a record for July of US$2.216 billion. The surplus for the year is now at US$13.5 billion (compared to US$9.6 billion in July 2002).

As for imports, in July they totalled US$378 million, down 14.6% from July 2002. From January to July, imports totalled US$2.7 billion.

Export highlights have been soybeans, up over 76%, paper and pulp, up 55%, fruits (up 30%), meats (up 28%) and fish (up 26%). (AB)