Brazilian spending abroad in 2012: US$ 22,2 billion

Stênio Ribeiro
Reporter from Agência Brasil

Brasilia – Brazilians spent US$1,426 billion more on international travel in December than foreigners spent in the country. This represents an increase of US$275 million (2,41%) compared to the same month in 2011. Year-to-date spending on international travel totaled US$22,2 billion, while foreigners spent US$6,4 billion in the country – resulting in a deficit of US$15,588 billion in international travel accounts.

The figures were presented this Wednesday, the 23rd, by the head of the Economic Department (Depec) of the Central Bank (BC), Túlio Maciel. According to him, 2012 registered a new record for spending on international travel, stimulated mainly by the appreciation of the real against the dollar during much of last year.

In addition to travel, external services recorded net outflows of US$41,075 billion in 2012. They therefore cost US$3,143 billion more (8,28%) than the previous year, since total Brazilian spending abroad amounted to US$80,939 billion, while revenue from foreign spending in the country was US$39,864 billion.

The main expenses, totaling US$18,804 billion, were for equipment rentals, which increased by 12,23% compared to 2011, followed by travel expenses. Next came transportation costs, amounting to US$8,769 billion (+5,2%); US$3,850 billion for computing and information, at the same level as the previous year; US$3,156 billion for royalties and licenses (+16,45%); US$1,446 billion for government services (+3,95%); US$994 million for insurance (-17,98%); US$709 million for financial services (-17,36%); and US$10,759 billion in the "other services" category, with an increase of 7,01% compared to the previous year.

According to the head of Depec, net income remittances abroad totaled US$6,543 billion in the last month of 2012, a slight increase of 1,7% compared to December 2011. With this performance, accumulated remittances for the year reached US$35,448 billion, or 25,1% below the US$47,319 billion remittances in 2011. US$24,112 billion were in profits and dividends, a reduction of 36,8% compared to 2011, and US$11,847 billion in interest payments, which decreased by 17,79% year-on-year.