Brazil posts lower-than-expected trade surplus in June

SAO PAULO/BRASILIA, July 4 (Reuters) - Brazil's trade surplus in June missed analysts' expectations, government data showed on Friday, as imports kept their recent growth path and the government cut its own yearly surplus outlook.

Latin America's largest economy's monthly surplus declined near 7% from a year earlier to $5.89 billion, according to the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade, missing the $6.45 billion forecast in a Reuters poll of economists.

Exports rose 1.4% year-over-year to $29.1 billion, as higher prices of coffee and stronger beef exports helped to offset declines in soy, oil and iron ore.

Meanwhile, imports increased by a pace of 3.8% to $23.3 billion, amid increased purchases of multiple products, including fertilizers, auto parts, medicine, aircrafts and machines.

The ministry also cut its 2025 trade surplus estimate by nearly a third to $50.4 billion, from $70.2 billion previously, increasing the projection for imports and cutting the exports outlook.

Year-to-date, Brazil's trade surplus has plunged almost 28% from the same period in 2024 to $30.1 billion. (Reporting by Andre Romani in Sao Paulo and Isabel Versiani in Brasilia)