Brasília, 12/9/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazil's imports in the first week of December rose 14.7%, compared to the same period last year. According to the Secretariat of Foreign Trade, the daily average value of imports went from US$163.9 million in December 2002, to US$188 million this year. Total imports for the first week of December reached US$940 million.

Imports of fertilizers were up 253.6%, pharmaceuticals up 54.9%, electro-electronic equipment up 41.2%, chemicals up 40.4%.

So far this year, imports have totalled US$45.198 billion. (AB)