Mylena Fiori
Reporter - Agência Brasil

São Paulo - Brazilian exports set an all-time record in June, when they surpassed the mark of US$ 10 billion. The monthly surplus exceeded US$ 4 billion for the first time in the country's history. These figures were announced in São Paulo by the Minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan.

With these results, the government will hold to its year-end target of US$ 112 billion. Exports over the past 12 months have totaled US$ 106 billion. To reach the target, however, Furlan emphasized that it will be necessary to maintain a monthly average of around US$ 10 billion in the second half of the year. In the second half of 2004, monthly exports averaged US$ 9 billion. "In the second half of the year, we face a much bigger challenge than in the first half," he observed.

Translation: David Silberstein