The rising price of several imported items, especially fertilizers and oil, made the surplus trade balance shrink in July. Last month, the country exported US$ 5.444 billion more than it imported, a drop of 22.7% compared to the same month of 2021. In the first seven months of the year, the trade balance accumulates a surplus of US$ 39.751 billion . This represents 10.4% less than that recorded from January to July last year.
Despite the decline, the balance is the second best in history for the period, losing only to the first seven months of 2021, when the surplus had closed at US$ 44.38 billion. Last month, Brazil sold US$ 29.955 billion abroad and bought US$ 24.511 billion. Both imports and exports reached a record in July, since the beginning of the historical series, in 1989.
Exports rose 20% compared to July last year, according to the daily average criterion. Imports, however, increased at a faster pace: 31.6% in the same comparison. The record of imports and exports, however, is due to the increase in international prices of goods. Last month, the volume of exported goods rose on average by only 4.7% compared to July last year, while prices rose 12.2%, favored by the appreciation of commodities (primary goods with international quotations).
In imports, the quantity purchased rose 8.7%, but average prices rose 41.6%. The rise in prices was mainly driven by manures, fertilizers, oil, coal and wheat, items that became more expensive after the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. With information from Agência Brasil.
