Brazil’s chemical imports fell 20.5% in April from March

13 May 2010 21:15  [Source: ICIS news]

SAO PAULO (ICIS news)--Brazil’s chemical imports were at $2.4bn (€1.9bn) in April, down 20.5% from the record-high reported in March but up 44.9% year-over-year, domestic industry association Abiquim said on Thursday.

In March, imports hit a record $3bn, due in large part to purchase of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines, Abiquim said.

The year-over-year surge is due to imports of chemical products for fertilizers, which hit $401.9m in April, an increase of 42.1% from March this year and fully 154.6% ahead of levels seen in April 2009, Abiquim said.  

Chemical exports in April were at $1bn, a decline of 7.4% from March but a 28.6% improvement compared with the year earlier April.

Imports in the January-April period hit $9.6bn, up 39.2% from the same period a year ago, while exports in the four-month range rose by 39% to $4bn compared with last year.  

Brazil’s chemicals sector registered a January-April trade deficit of $5.6bn, according to the trade group.

($1 = €0.79)

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By: Hellen Berger
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