Brazil imported US$219.4 billion worth of goods sourced from around the globe in 2021, up by 45.5% since 2017 and accelerating by 38.2% from 2020 to 2021.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2021, the Brazilian real has depreciated by -69% against the US dollar since 2017 and dropped by -4.5% from 2020 to 2021. Brazil’s weaker local currency make Brazilian imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively more expensive when converted starting from the Brazilian real.

Brazil spends the highest amounts on imported goods such as refined petroleum oils, fertilizer mixes, integrated electronic circuits or microassemblies and turbo-jets. Those 4 products represent 13.4% of Brazil’s total imports by value in 2021.

Applying a continental lens, 39.5% of Brazil’s total imports by value in 2021 were purchased from Asian countries. Trade partners in Europe supplied 22.9% of imports sold to Brazil while 21.3% was provided by exporters in North America (21.3%). Fellow Latin America nations plus the Caribbean but excluding Mexico furnished 12.7% worth.

Smaller percentages came from suppliers in Africa (2.9%) and Oceania (0.6%) led by Australia.

Given Brazil’s population of 212.6 million people, its total $219.4 billion in 2021 imported goods translates to roughly $1,050 in yearly product demand from every person in the South American nation. That per-capita amount compares to an average $750 for 2020.

Brazil’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Brazil’s import purchases during 2021. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Brazil.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$30.4 billion (13.9% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $29.3 billion (13.4%)
3. Electrical machinery, equipment: $27.6 billion (12.6%)
4. Fertilizers: $15.2 billion (6.9%)
5. Vehicles: $14.4 billion (6.6%)
6. Organic chemicals: $13.2 billion (6%)
7. Pharmaceuticals: $11 billion (5%)
8. Plastics, plastic articles: $9.9 billion (4.5%)
9. Other chemical goods: $6.4 billion (2.9%)
10. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $6.2 billion (2.8%)

Brazil’s top 10 imports account for about three-quarters (74.6%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

The fastest growers among Brazil’s leading imported product categories are mineral fuels including oil (up 95.2% from 2020 to 2021), fertilizers (up 88.9%), pharmaceuticals (up 55.9%), then plastic as a material and items made from plastics (up 48.1%), and vehicles (up 47.9%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under other virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Brazil’s Costliest Fuel Imports

In 2021, Brazilian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related goods.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$13.4 billion (up 81.9% from 2020)
2. Petroleum gases: $5.9 billion (up 238.6%)
3. Crude oil: $4 billion (up 52.9%)
4. Electrical energy: $2.9 billion (up 90.4%)
5. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $2.8 billion (up 71.7%)
6. Coke, semi-coke: $591.9 million (up 73.1%)
7. Petroleum oil residues: $450.3 million (up 181.7%)
8. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $178.9 million (up 110.3%)
9. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $114.3 million (up 64.4%)
10. Tar pitch, coke: $43.8 million (up 45.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Brazilian purchases of petroleum gases (up 238.6%), petroleum oil residues (up 181.7%) then high temperature distilled coal tar oils (up 110.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among Brazilian businesses and consumers.

Brazil’s Costliest Machinery Imports Including Computers

In 2021, Brazilian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Turbo-jets: US$4.2 billion (up 26.8% from 2020)
2. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $2 billion (up 36.1%)
3. Computer parts, accessories: $1.7 billion (up 48.4%)
4. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.6 billion (up 18.7%)
5. Piston engine parts: $1.5 billion (up 47.9%)
6. Computers, optical readers: $1.4 billion (up 4.8%)
7. Air or vacuum pumps: $1.2 billion (up 29.6%)
8. Machinery parts: $1.1 billion (up 60.8%)
9. Liquid pumps and elevators: $1.1 billion (up 41.2%)
10. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1 billion (up 33.5%)

Among these import subcategories, Brazilian purchases of machinery parts (up 60.8%), computer parts or accessories (up 48.4%) then piston engine parts (up 47.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Brazilian businesses and consumers.

Brazil’s Costliest Electronics Imports

In 2021, Brazilian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic equipment including consumer electronics.

1. Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$5.1 billion (up 27.3% from 2020)
2. Phone devices including smartphones: $4.4 billion (down -1.7%)
3. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $2.8 billion (up 96.8%)
4. TV/radio/radar device parts: $2.4 billion (up 47.6%)
5. Electrical converters/power units: $1.4 billion (up 33.2%)
6. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $1.3 billion (up 29.1%)
7. Insulated wire/cable: $1.1 billion (up 28.4%)
8. Electric motors, generators: $882.9 million (up 23%)
9. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $649.8 million (up 48.2%)
10. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $615.6 million (up 49.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Brazilian purchases of solar power diodes and semi-conductors (up 96.8%), electrical or optical circuit boards and panels (up 49.4%) then electric water heaters and hair dryers (up 48.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Brazilian businesses and consumers.

Brazil’s Costliest Fertilizer Imports

In 2021, Brazilian importers spent the most on the following subcategories of imported fertilizers.

1. Fertilizer mixes: US$5.6 billion (up 115.6% from 2020)
2. Nitrogenous fertilizers: $4.4 billion (up 74.8%)
3. Potassic fertilizers: $4.3 billion (up 62.8%)
4. Phosphatic fertilizers: $928.9 million (up 202.8%)
5. Packaged animal/vegetable fertilizers: $22.1 million (up 55.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Brazilian purchases of phosphatic fertilizers (up 202.8%), fertilizer mixes (up 115.6%) then nitrogenous fertilizers (up 74.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.

These amounts and the percentages within parenthesis clearly show where the declining demand lies for different types of imported organic chemicals among Brazilian businesses and consumers.
 

See also Brazil’s Top 10 Major Export Companies, Brazil’s Top Trading Partners, Brazil’s Top 10 Exports and Top South American Export Countries

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on March 17, 2022

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on March 17, 2022

International Monetary Fund, Exchange Rates selected indicators (National Currency per U.S. dollar, period average). Accessed on March 17, 2022

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 17, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on March 17, 2022