Brasília, 12/16/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The daily average value of Brazilian imports rose sharply in the second week of December to US$199 million, compared to US$163.9 million during the same period in 2002. According to the Secretariat of Foreign Trade, that works out to an increase of 21.4%.

The biggest increases in imports were fertilizers (up 272.8%), electronic-electrical equipment (up 63%), grains (48.6%), pharmaceuticals (35.3%), plastics (28.9%), chemicals (27.4%) and mechanical equipment (20.6%).

Imports for the month of December at now at US$1.990 billion. For the year, US$46.248 billion. (AB)