Brazil/

Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil’s economy outweighs that of all other South American countries, and Brazil is expanding its presence in world markets. Since 2003, Brazil has steadily improved its macroeconomic stability, building up foreign reserves, and reducing its debt profile by shifting its debt burden toward real denominated and domestically held instruments. In 2008, Brazil became a net external creditor and two ratings agencies awarded investment grade status to its debt. After record growth in 2007 and 2008, the onset of the global financial crisis hit Brazil in September 2008. Brazil experienced two quarters of recession, as global demand for Brazil’s commodity-based exports dwindled and external credit dried up. However, Brazil was one of the first emerging markets to begin a recovery. Consumer and investor confidence revived and GDP growth returned to positive in 2010, boosted by an export recovery. Brazil’s strong growth and high interest rates make it an attractive destination for foreign investors. Large capital inflows over the past year have contributed to the rapid appreciation of its currency and led the government to raise taxes on some foreign investments. President Dilma ROUSSEFF has pledged to retain the previous administration’s commitment to inflation targeting by the Central Bank, a floating exchange rate, and fiscal restraint.

$2.194 trillion (2010 est.)

$2.041 trillion (2009 est.)

$2.045 trillion (2008 est.)

$2.024 trillion (2010 est.)

7.5% (2010 est.)

-0.2% (2009 est.)

5.1% (2008 est.)

$10,900 (2010 est.)

$10,300 (2009 est.)

$10,400 (2008 est.)

103.6 million (2010 est.)

7% (2010 est.)

8.1% (2009 est.)

26% (2008)

56.7 (2005)

60.7 (1998)

18.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

60.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

59.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

4.9% (2010 est.)

4.9% (2009 est.)

15.17% (31 December 2009)

20.48% (31 December 2008)

44.65% (31 December 2009 est.)

47.25% (31 December 2008 est.)

$165.8 billion (31 December 2010 est)

$125.3 billion (31 December 2009 est)

$1.522 trillion (31 December 2009)

$972.8 billion (31 December 2008)

$2.104 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.542 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

$1.167 trillion (31 December 2009)

$589.4 billion (31 December 2008)

$1.37 trillion (31 December 2007)

coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef

textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

11.5% (2010 est.)

438.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)

404.3 billion kWh (2007 est.)

2.034 billion kWh (2007 est.)

42.06 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2008 est.)

2.572 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

2.46 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

570,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)

632,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

13.2 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

10.28 billion cu m (2009 est.)

18.72 billion cu m (2009 est.)

NA (2009 est.)

8.44 billion cu m (2009 est.)

364.2 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

-$52.73 billion (2010 est.)

-$24.3 billion (2009 est.)

$199.7 billion (2010 est.)

$153 billion (2009 est.)

transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos

China 12.49%, US 10.5%, Argentina 8.4%, Netherlands 5.39%, Germany 4.05% (2009)

$187.7 billion (2010 est.)

$127.7 billion (2009 est.)

machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics

US 16.12%, China 12.61%, Argentina 8.77%, Germany 7.65%, Japan 4.3% (2009)

$290.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$238.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$310.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$273.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$349.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$319.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$131 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$117.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

reals (BRL) per US dollar - 1.77 (2010), 1.9976 (2009), 1.8644 (2008), 1.85 (2007), 2.1761 (2006)