The drop in Brazil’s imports caused by the devaluation of the Real and the drop in economic activity made the trade balance hit a record in June. Last month, Brazil exported US$7.463 billion more than it imported. This is the biggest surplus for a single month since records began in 1989. Despite this, in the first semester, the trade balance was still below last year. In the first six months of 2020, Brazil exported US$23.035 billion more than it imported. The result is 10.3% lower than the balance for the same period last year, at US$25.68 billion, and is at the lowest level for the first semester since 2015. Last month, both exports and imports fell. Brazil exported US$19.912 billion in June, 12% less than in June 2019, according to the daily average criterion. Imports fell even further. Brazil bought US$10.449 billion last month, marking a decrease of 27.4% in the same comparison, also by the criterion of the daily average. In the accumulated result for the year, exports fell more than imports. From January to June, Brazil sold US$102.43 billion, 6.4% less than in the same period in 2019. Imports were US$79.395 billion, with a decrease of 5.2%. Only agriculture exported more than in June last year, with US$57.49 million more shipped abroad, up 29.7% by the daily average. The main highlights were soybeans, rice with husks, latex, and rubber.
Source: Agencia Brasil / Datamar News