Brasília, February 26, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - So far this year the trade balance shows a cumulative surplus of US$ 3.185 billion, with exports amounting to US$ 10.652 billion and imports, US$ 7.467 billion. Compared with the same period last year, exports were up 28.3% and imports, 18.8%, in terms of averages per business day.

In the third week of February (16-22), according to data released today by the Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, the surplus came to US$ 724 million.

Compared with February, 2003, there was a 29.4% increase in average exports per business day and an 11.7% increase in average imports. In comparison with January, 2004, average exports rose 17.1% per business day, while average imports grew 8.2%.

So far in February the cumulative trade surplus stands at US$ 1.597 billion. (DAS)