Brasília, March 8, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Average exports per business day this year surpassed last year's, for the same period, by 27.5%. For imports, the average was 17.1% higher. Exports totaled US$ 13.155 billion and imports, US$ 9.185 billion. The cumulative trade balance surplus through yesterday (7) stood at US$ 3.97 billion.

In the first week of March, the surplus attained US$ 400 million, with exports of US$ 1.633 billion and imports of US$ 1.233 billion. Compared with the same period in 2003, the daily average was up 18.4% for exports and 26.5% for imports. Compared with February's results, the daily average rose 2.7% for exports and 18.7% for imports. (DAS)