There were more jobs created in Brazil in 2005 as a result of exports to China than there were positions lost because of imports from the Asian giant, a Brazilian economist said Friday.

According to a study by Marta Reis Castilho of the Federal Fluminense University, 559,598 jobs were created as a result of trade with China, while 237,455 positions were lost, which means a surplus of 322,143 to Brazil.

The research also showed that the job surplus peaked at 379,000in 2003.

Of the jobs that bilateral trade created in Brazil in 2005, approximately 396,000, or 71 percent, went to workers with basic education levels or less, as the major exports to China were agricultural products and iron ore.