São Paulo, November 21, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazilian exports to China should complete the year with a financial volume of around US$ 5 billion, 84% superior to last year's performance. This is the expectation of the secretary of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Development, Ivan Ramalho.

He stresses that this result is greater than the overall increase in Brazilian exports, which grew 20%. China is Brazil's second largest trade partner. Although iron ore and soybeans continue to head the list of Brazilian products sold in largest quantity to that Asian country, Ramalho points out that manufactured goods in the steel and auto parts sectors, with greater aggregated value, showed a growth in sales and should continue this trend in 2004. (DAS)