The Brazilian trade balance registered a surplus of US$ 1.199 billion in February, with exports of US$ 16.733 billion and imports of US$ 15.534 billion. The figures were disclosed by the MDIC (Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade) on Tuesday (03/01).

The average daily exports in February was $ 836.7 million, while imports were $ 776.7 million. As a comparison, so far this year, those averages were $ 779.2 million and $ 739.6 million, respectively.

It was also released data from the last two weeks of February: between 21 and 27 February, the trade balance was negative $ 399 million, while on February 28, the balance was positive $ 41 million .

Expectations for 2011

In the year to date, the trade balance is positive at US$ 1.622 billion. In the same period last year, the accumulated surplus was $ 210 million.

Market expectations, in the latest edition of the Central Bank Focus report, released yesterday, grew and now point to a surplus of US$ 13 billion at the end of 2011 - versus the previous forecast of US$ 11.45 billion.

Also, please note that the Ministry of Development has set the target for this year's exports at US$ 228 billion.

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