In the first six months of 2007, Brazilian foreign trade maintained its strong growth trend, confirming the advances made in the productive sector and the vigor of exports oriented production.

In January to June, the exports reached US$ 73.2 billion and imports were US$ 52.6 billion, both peak marks, resulting in a trade flow of US$125.8 billion all records values for the period and surplus of US$ 20.7 billion. These figures clearly show the increasing liberalization of the Brazilian economy and its insertion in the world trade. Considering the first semester of 2006, exports grew by 19.9 percent and imports grew by 26.6 percent.

Exports of all products categories basic and semi - manufactured and manufactured and registered record levels for January to June periods. Compared with the same period in 2006, the exports of basic goods increased by 31.3 percent, semi – manufactured goods exports were 22.0 percent higher and the exports of manufactured goods grew by 14.5 percent. It is worth to point out that manufactured goods represented 53.5 percent of the exports composition.

The descriptions of the products imported this year show a strong correlation with the productive investments. The imports of raw materials and industrial supplies and materials represented 50.2 percent of the total and capital goods imports, 21.1 percent. In the period under analysis, the imports of consumer goods increased 34.3percent, the imports of raw materials and industrial supplies materials grew by 29.4 percent, capital goods, 24.3 percent and the imports of fuel and oil by 15.8 percent.

The process of diversification of the markets for the Brazilian products continues. In January to June 2007, the exports to the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Eastern European countries registered impressive growth. The European Union, the United States and Mercosur that are already Brazilian traditional trade partners have also increased their purchases from Brazil.

The economic expansion that is being verified in many productive regions throughout Brazil has also been a key factor to the continuity of the expansion of the Brazilian exports. The increasing participation of non-traditional exporting states in the foreign trade of the country shows that the present increase of exports is sustainable.