Transport and Covid-19: responses and resources

Brazil: Second Quarter 2012 Shows Trade Slowing Down

This Statistics Brief focuses for the first time on Brazil, the sixth-biggest economy in the world. The latest freight data for Brazil collected by the International Transport Forum at the OECD through August 2012 highlights continuing economic uncertainty:

  • Brazil’s external trade by sea, measured in tonnes of goods moved, remains strong. However, trade by air, a lead indicator, has fallen below the pre-crisis peak raising concerns over future performance;
  • Dependency on Asia-led growth is exposed. Asia as a trade partner shows resilience as exports by sea continue to grow. Asia accounted for half of Brazil’s external trade in 2012, measured in tonnes of goods moved, compared with 25% in 2000;
  • Trade by road and rail with neighbouring countries remains stagnant, below pre-crisis levels.

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