Edla Lula
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - The Brazilian trade balance achieved a US$ 2.183 billion surplus in January. The most outstanding performance occurred in the fourth week of the month, when the surplus attained the mark of US$ 872 million. The month's previous best was US$ 540, in the second week. Exports in the fourth week were the highest for the month, reaching US$ 1.952 billion, while imports, which amounted to US$ 1.080 billion, were the month's lowest.

Despite the depreciation of the dollar vis-à-vis the real, January's surplus is 24.8% higher than in January, 2004, when it stood at US$ 1.586 billion.

Exports in January totaled US$ 7.444 billion, while imports came to US$ 5.261 billion.

Translation: David Silberstein