Brasília, November 4, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - October's increases of 30.9% in imports of capital goods (machinery and equipment for the manufacturing sector) and 18.1% in imports of inputs and raw materials point to a renewal of investments by entrepreneurs. This is the assessment made by the secretary of Foreign Trade (Secex), Ivan Ramalho. In his view, capital goods imports were quite significant in October. "This growth in imports means, in effect, that we have growth in industrial production," he said.

According to Ramalho, the increase in imports and the growth of exports should remain stable through the end of the year, thus maintaining the government's goal of closing 2003 with a trade surplus of US$ 22 billion, with US$ 70 billion in sales abroad and US$ 48 billion in purchases.

"We believe that there are real prospects for export growth in excess of 10% in 2004," the secretary informed.

Ramalho said that the United States should continue to be the biggest buyer of Brazilian goods, followed by China and Argentina. "Evidently, the tendency is for exports to China to grow substantially in 2004," he concluded. (DAS)