Brasìlia, 12/2/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - It is possible that Brazil will reach the end of the year with a record trade surplus of US$23.5 billion, reports Ivan Ramalho, secretary of Foreign Trade.

Ramalho points out that with the November surplus of US$1.732 billion, the cumulative surplus for the year has now exceeded the US$22 billion target set by minister of Development, Luiz Fernando Furlan.

The main reasons for the record performance are: an increase in exports of manufactured goods, market diversification (more exports to Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe), and exports of new products. (AB)