Influenced by the importation of a Singapore oil platform, the trade balance surplus shrink in September. Last month, the country exported US $ 2.99 billion more than it imported, a 41.1% drop from September 2024 (US $ 5.08 billion surplus). That was the worst surplus for the month in ten years.
The result was released on Monday (6) by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC). From January to September, the trade balance accumulates surplus of US $ 45.478 billion, 22.5% drop in relation to the result of the same period last year.
In September, exports broke record, totaling US $ 30.53 billionup 7.2% over the same month last year. Imports totaled US $ 27.541 billion, 17.7% increase in the same comparison.
Last month, the volume of exported goods grew by 10.2%, while average prices retreated 2.5%compared to September 2024. In imports, the volume of purchased goods (in tons) rose 6.2%, with the average price increasing 1.6%.
Regarding exports, the main variations, compared to September last year, were as follows within each product category:
Farming (+18%):
- Non -ground corn, except sweet corn: +22.5%
- Soy: +20.2%
- Coffee not toasted: +11%
Extractive industry (+9.2%):
- Stone, sand and gravel: +50.3%
- Crude oil oils: +16.6%
- Iron ore and its concentrates: +3.3%
Transformation industry (+2.5%):
- Not monetary gold, excluding ores: +94.4%
- Fresh, refrigerated or frozen beef: +55.6%
- Passenger car vehicles: + 50%
Regarding imports, the main variations were as follows:
- Capital goods: +73.2%, driven by the oil platform
- Intermediate goods: +10.5%
- Consumer goods: +20.1%, pulled by economic growth
- FUELS: -15.2%
Regarding imported products, the highlights were the growth of 564.7% in the purchase of soy in agriculture; Gross fertilizers (+63.5%) in the extractive industry; and non -electrical engines and machines (+63.1%) in the transformation industry.
Revision
The MDIC also revised trade balance projections to 2025. The changes were as follows:
- Commercial surplus: rose from US $ 50.4 billion to US $ 60.9 billion
- Exports: rose from US $ 341.9 billion to US $ 344.9 billion
- Imports: They fell from $ 291.5 billion to $ 284 billion
Projections are reviewed every three months. The previous estimate, released in July, did not yet consider the effects of the United States tariff. Last year, the trade balance recorded a surplus of $ 74 billion. The surplus record was recorded in 2023, when the positive result was $ 98.9 billion.
MDIC estimates are more pessimistic than financial institutions. According to the Focus Bulletin, a central bank survey with market analysts, the trade balance will end the year with a surplus of US $ 64.4 billion.
