Below is a list showcasing 15 of Brazil’s top trading partners in terms of export sales, countries that imported the most Brazilian shipments by dollar value during 2018. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Brazilian exports.

1. China: US$64.2 billion (26.8% of Brazil’s total exports)
2. United States: $29.1 billion (12.1%)
3. Argentina: $15 billion (6.2%)
4. Netherlands: $13.1 billion (5.4%)
5. Chile: $6.4 billion (2.7%)
6. Germany: $5.2 billion (2.2%)
7. Spain: $5.2 billion (2.1%)
8. Mexico: $4.5 billion (1.9%)
9. Japan: $4.3 billion (1.8%)
10. India: $3.9 billion (1.6%)
11. Singapore: $3.6 billion (1.5%)
12. Italy: $3.6 billion (1.5%)
13. South Korea: $3.4 billion (1.4%)
14. Canada: $3.4 billion (1.4%)
15. Belgium: $3.2 billion (1.3%)

Over two-thirds (70%) of Brazilian exports in 2018 were delivered to the above 15 trade partners.

Fastest-growing among the top customers for Brazil’s exports was the Netherlands via its 41.2% improvement since 2017. In second place was China (up 35.2%) closely trailed by Spain (up 34.1%), Singapore (up 30.7%), Chile (up 27%) then Canada (up 23.4%).

Cutting back on year-over-year import purchases from Brazil were Japan (down -17.6%), India (down -16%), Argentina (down -15.1%), Mexico (down -0.2%) then Italy (down -0.03%).

As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.

It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.

In 2018, Brazil incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.

1. Germany: -US$5.3 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2018)
2. South Korea: -$1.9 billion
3. Russia: -$1.7 billion
4. Switzerland: -$1.4 billion
5. Algeria: -$1.4 billion
6. France: -$1.3 billion
7. Taiwan: -$1 billion
8. Nigeria: -$964.2 million
9. Italy: -$962.4 million
10. Austria: -$904.1 million

Brazil went from a $91.6 million surplus trading with Russia in 2017 to -$1.7 billion in red ink one year later.

Among Brazil’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Brazilian deficits with Nigeria (up 949.6%), Taiwan (up 529.9%) and Italy (up 136.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.

These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Brazil’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Brazil to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.

Overall, Brazil earned a $58.7 billion trade surplus for 2018 down -12.4% from $67 billion in black ink one year earlier.

Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.

In 2018, Brazil incurred the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.

1. China: US$29.5 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2018)
2. Netherlands: $11.4 billion
3. Argentina: $3.9 billion
4. Chile: $3 billion
5. Singapore: $2.9 billion
6. Iran: $2.2 billion
7. Spain: $2.2 billion
8. Hong Kong: $2 billion
9. Panama: $1.9 billion
10. Egypt: $1.9 billion

Among Brazil’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, Brazilian surpluses with Panama (up 207%), Spain (up 123.4%) and Chile (up 90.5%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.

These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate Brazil’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Brazil to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.

Companies Servicing Brazilian Trading Partners

Twenty-five Brazilian corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. Below is a sample of the major Brazilian companies that Forbes included:

• Petrobras (oil, gas)
• Vale (iron, steel)
• JBS (food processing)
• BRF-Brasil Foods (food processing)
• Itaúsa (industrials conglomerate)
• Braskem (specialized chemicals)
• Metalurgica Gerdau (iron, steel)
• CSN (iron, steel)
• Cosan (food processing)
• Embraer (aerospace)
• WEG (electrical equipment)

According to IMPORTERS.com listings for Brazilian suppliers, the following are examples of companies that ship products from Brazil to its trading partners around the globe. Shown within parenthesis are products that the Brazilian business provides.

• Alfa International (manganese ore)
• Almeida Junior Com Intl Ltda (pig iron)
• CSS Exports & Imports (beer)
• Dwd Export Ltda (slippers, flip-flops)
• Eric Phones Store (mobile phones)
• Industrias Colin SA (polyester, cotton, fiberglass)
• JS Electronics (computers, digital cameras)
• Kalam Diamond (raw diamonds)
• Kesco Ltda (rice, chicken, beef)
• MMS 2000 Import & Export Ltda (cane sugar, soyabeans)