Brazil's trade ministry reported Monday that Brazil posted a $2.02 billion trade surplus in March, as both imports and exports increased from February. Exports totaled $20.9 billion, up from $19 billion in February and 19.3 billion in March 2011. Imports rose to $18.9 billion--up from $16.3 billion the previous month and $17.7 billion in March 2011.
Meanwhile, Brazil's statistics agency, the IBGE, said Tuesday industrial production in Brazil increased 1.3 percent in February from January, following a revised 1.5 percent decline in January. Industrial production in February also fell 3.9 percent from February 2011. Production of manufactured goods--which consist of steel, cars and oil extraction--rose 4.1 percent year-on-year in February.