Brazil April trade surplus up more than forecast

Brazil posted a trade surplus of $3.7 billion in April, compared with a surplus of $1.77 billion in March, the trade ministry said on Monday. The surplus was higher than the $3.2 billion median estimate of 15 economists in a Reuters survey. The estimates for the surplus ranged from $3 billion to $3.5 billion. Exports rose 4.3 percent in April from March to $12.32 billion, but were down 12.3 percent from a year earlier.
Imports fell 14 percent month-on-month in April to $8.61 billion and sank 30.1 percent from the same month last year as a weak Brazilian real made it more expensive to buy overseas goods.