Official figures indicate that the Brazilian trade surplus grew to US$67 billion last year, 40 percent more than in 2016 and the biggest yet, Xinhua reports.

The Chinese state-run news agency, citing data given by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, says the value of Brazilian exports increased by 18.5 percent US$217.74 billion, the most for three years, and that imports increased by 10.5 percent to US$150.74 billion, also the most for three years.

The report says China was again the largest trading partner of Brazil last year.

Brazilian exports to China grew by 35.3 percent to US$50.2 billion, while imports from China were worth US$27.9 billion, Xinhua says.