Brasília, April 1, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The cumulative trade balance surplus so far this year, through March 31, stands at US$ 6.17 billion, 61% more than during the same period last year.

Over this period, exports amounted to US$ 19.448 billion, corresponding to a 27.2% increase in the average per business day, and imports totaled US$ 13.278 billion, a 16.2% increase in the average per business day.

Over the past 12 months, during the period from April, 2003, to March, 2004, the cumulative surplus was US$ 27.181 billion, as against US$ 15.9 billion registered over the comparable 12-month period ending in March, 2003.

The trade surplus in March came to US$ 2.602 billion, with exports of US$ 7.927 billion and imports of US$ 5.325 billion. Compared with March, 2003, exports increased 25% and imports, 18.8%, on the basis of averages per business day.

In comparison with February, the trade balance surplus in March represented an 8.4% increase in exports and an 11.5% increase in imports, once again, in terms of averages per business day.

Translator: David Silberstein