Brasília, 12/2/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The biggest increases in Brazilian exports this year have been in soybeans, cellulose and automobiles. In fact, there has been an across the board increase in sales abroad: semi-manufactured goods up 50%, manufactured goods up 48.4% and basic goods up 45%.

In dollars the totals are as follows: semi-manufactured goods exports were worth US$9.8 billion (iron, steel and lumber, plus unrefined sugar, leather and animal skins); manufactured goods exports were worth US$35.7 billion (aircraft, motors, footwear, autoparts and orange juice); and, basic goods exports were US$19.5 billion (iron ore, unrefined sugar and petroleum, meats (beef, pork and poultry), coffee and soybean grains, and tobacco leaves).

"The numbers show a sharp increase in exports of Brazilian manufactured goods," says Ivan Ramalho, the secretary of Foreign Trade. (AB)