China Brazil's top trade partner

Rio De Janeiro - China edged out the United States as Brazil's top trading partner in the first half of the year, the Brazilian industry and trade ministry said.

Brazil's trade volume with China totalled $17.22bn from January to June, compared to $17.1bn with the United States, historically Brazil's principal trading partner.

With the global economy in crisis, Brazilian exports plunged 22% in the first half of the year to R69.95bn.

China was practically the only country to increase imports from Brazil during the period, raising them by 42.3% to R10.45bn, compared to the first half of 2008.

If the trend continues, China could end the year as the South American giant's number one trading partner, Foreign Trade Minister Welber Barral said Wednesday.

But once the crisis has passed, the United States is likely to recover the top spot, he said.

- AFP