Brasília, 10/15/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Imports by Brazil rose 21.6% in the second week of October, compared to the first week. According to the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex), the daily average of imports went from US$192.3 million, to US$233 million, during the same period.

Secex says the spike in imports was led by lubricants, mechanical equipment, chemicals, vehicles and autoparts, precision instruments, fertilizers, plastics and pharmaceutical goods. Up to the end of the second week of October, total imports for the year are at US$36.734 billion. (AB)