Overall, Brazil achieved a $46.7 billion trade surplus during 2019 down by -20.5% from its $58.7 billion positive trade balance one year earlier.

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 2019. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Brazilian exports.

1. China: US$62.9 billion (28.1% of total Brazilian exports)
2. United States: $29.7 billion (13.3%)
3. Netherlands: $10.1 billion (4.5%)
4. Argentina: $9.7 billion (4.3%)
5. Japan: $5.4 billion (2.4%)
6. Chile: $5.1 billion (2.3%)
7. Mexico: $4.9 billion (2.2%)
8. Germany: $4.7 billion (2.1%)
9. Spain: $4 billion (1.8%)
10. South Korea: $3.4 billion (1.5%)
11. Canada: $3.3 billion (1.5%)
12. Belgium: $3.2 billion (1.4%)
13. Italy: $3.1 billion (1.4%)
14. Colombia: $3.1 billion (1.4%)
15. United Kingdom: $3 billion (1.3%)

Over two-thirds (69.5%) of Brazilian exports in 2019 were delivered to the above 15 trade partners.

Year over year, 4 among the largest importers increased their purchases of exports from Brazil namely Japan (up 24.8%), Colombia (up 10.2%), Mexico (up 7.8%) and the United States (up 2%).

Leading the declining import purchases from Brazil were Argentina (down -35%), Netherlands (down -22.8%), Spain (down -22.4%) then Chile (down -19.5%).

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 2019, Brazil incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.

1. Germany: -US$5.6 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2019)
2. Russia: -$2.1 billion
3. India: -$1.5 billion
4. Switzerland: -$1.3 billion
5. South Korea: -$1.3 billion
6. Italy: -$921.1 million
7. France: -$860.2 million
8. Israel: -$833.7 million
9. Argentina: -$828.4 million
10. Austria: -$741.8 million

Among Brazil’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Brazilian deficits with Russia (up 20.6%) and Germany (up 4.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2018 to 2019.

Brazil suffered surplus reversals with Argentina and India resulting in severe deficits during 2019.

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 achieved a $46.7 billion trade surplus during 2019 down by -20.5% from its $58.7 billion positive trade balance 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 2019, Brazil generated the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.

1. China: US$27.6 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2019)
2. Netherlands: $7.9 billion
3. Singapore: $2.2 billion
4. Iran: $2.1 billion
5. Chile: $2 billion
6. Panama: $1.8 billion
7. Hong Kong: $1.8 billion
8. United Arab Emirates: $1.7 billion
9. Colombia: $1.6 billion
10. Turkey: $1.6 billion

Among Brazil’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, Brazilian grew its surpluses from 2018 to 2019 at the expense of Colombia (up 51.2%) and the United Arab Emirates (up 12.6%).

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)