RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil posted a trade surplus of US$1.5 billion in March, figures showed on Thursday, less than half the consensus forecast in a Reuters poll for a US$3.1 bln surplus and also sharply down from the US$3.6 bln surplus registered in the same month last year.
Exports in March totaled US$24.5 bln and imports were US$23.0 bln, the ministry said, adding that total trade flows of US$47.5 bln in the month were up almost 40% from a year earlier.