Brazil achieved its highest trade surplus on record in 2016, with December imports climbing 9% – the fastest since October 2013. This was driven by consumer goods, and potentially by toys and foodstuffs, Panjiva data shows. Global exports fell 5%, though this was due to weak agricultural exports – U.S.-bound coffee exports fell 24%. Total shipments to the U.S. increased 14% in volume terms, partly due to a 17% depreciation in the real vs. the dollar. This resulted in a major gains for building materials (stone rose 34%, wood by 27%) as well as intermediates such as plastics and capital g...