Brazil-Record exports in 2008.

BRAZIL.

TRADE SURPLUS STRONG.

In spite of a year of record exports, Brazil the worlds largest exporter of beef and poultry and third largest exporter of pork. The trade surplus for 2008 was US$24.7 billion, which is a drop of 38% on 2007.

Brazils Ministry of Development Industry and Foreign Trade, announced on Friday, that exports reached an all time high of US$197.8 billion for 2008, this is an increase of 23% on 2007.

In December exports totalledUS$13.8 billion and the annual figures, came in just a fraction below the estimate of the central bank.

Meanwhile there has been marked drop in the value of Brazilian currency and 40%, wiped off the value of the stock exchange in 2008. However the first days trading of 2009 was good, with the market having surge of 5.83% on Friday