South America’s biggest country both in terms of land area and population, the Federative Republic of Brazil imported US$158.8 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That metric reflects a -10.5% reduction from $177.3 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Brazil’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Brazilian imports during 2020 for each of Brazil’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for about two-thirds (66.3%) of total Brazilian import purchases.

Brazil shares land borders with 10 countries-every nation in South America excluding Chile and Ecuador. The geographic proximity provides Brazil with advantages in international trade.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Brazilian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Brazil’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Brazil amounted to $34.8 billion or 21.9% of overall Brazilian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 83.5% of Brazil’s imports from mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $10.8 billion
Machinery: $5.4 billion
Organic chemicals: $3.1 billion
Ships, boats: $1.9 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.12 billion
Vehicles: $1.08 billion
Plastics: $1 billion
Other chemical goods: $766.4 million
Iron or steel products: $660.2 million
Iron and steel: $604.9 million
Man-made filaments: $598.2 million
Fertilizers: $595 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $478.8 million
Rubber: $464 million
Pharmaceuticals: $448.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Brazilian imports from China under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 196.9% gain in revenue and medical or technical equipment (up 28.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Brazil’s top 15 imported products were man-made filaments (down -21.4%), iron and steel as materials (down -16.4%), rubber (down -16%), fertilizers (also down -16%) then ships and boats (down -10.6%).

Brazil’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Brazil amounted to $28.2 billion or 17.8% of overall Brazilian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -7.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 91.9% of Brazil’s imports from America.

Mineral fuels including oil: $7.6 billion
Machinery: $6.2 billion
Plastics: $1.7 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.6 billion
Other chemical goods: $1.5 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $1.3 billion
Medical, technical equipment: $1.2 billion
Electronic equipment: $1 billion
Vehicles: $709.2 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $694.5 million
Inorganic chemicals: $629.8 million
Fertilizers: $531.2 million
Beverages: $369.8 million
Rubber: $362.6 million
Iron or steel products: $312.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Brazilian imports from the United States under the machinery product category via a 70.4% gain in revenue, aircraft and spacecraft (up 20.6%) and vehicles (up 14%).

Posting the severest declines among Brazil’s top 15 imported products were beverages (down -35.4%), mineral fuels including oil (down -33.5%), fertilizers (down -20.6%), organic chemicals (down -15.9%), inorganic chemicals (down -15.4%) and rubber (down -9.6%).

Brazil’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Brazil amounted to $9.4 billion or 5.9% of overall Brazilian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -8.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.3% of Brazil’s imports from Germany.

Machinery: $2.2 billion
Organic chemicals: $1.1 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $1 billion
Electronic equipment: $956.2 million
Vehicles: $760.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $666.7 million
Plastics: $498.8 million
Other chemical goods: $360.5 million
Fertilizers: $243.9 million
Iron or steel products: $241.1 million
Rubber: $117.4 million
Paper: $88.5 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $88.3 million
Iron and steel: $81.2 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $81 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Brazilian imports from Germany under the electronic equipment product category via a 49.3% gain in revenue and products made from iron or steel (up 15%).

Posting the severest declines among Brazil’s top 15 imported products were fertilizers (down -34.9%), vehicles (down -27.9%), iron and steel as materials (down -27%), pharmaceuticals (down -19.4%), organic chemicals (down -12.7%) and tanning or dyeing extracts (down -10.9%).

Brazil’s Main Imports from Argentina

In 2020, Argentina’s exports to Brazil amounted to $7.9 billion or 5% of overall Brazilian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -25.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.5% of Brazil’s imports from Argentina.

Vehicles: $2.6 billion
Cereals: $1.2 billion
Machinery: $418.8 million
Plastics: $362.3 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $357.4 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $307.9 million
Milling products: $291.9 million
Vegetables: $251.3 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $213.3 million
Other chemical goods: $207.3 million
Vegetable/fruit preparations: $203.7 million
Aluminum: $179.7 million
Fruits, nuts: $169.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $100.4 million
Rubber: $97.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Brazilian imports from Argentina under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category via a 127.5% gain in revenue, dairy, eggs and honey (up 30.4%) and machinery (up 14.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Brazil’s top 15 imported products were rubber (down -47.4%), vehicles (down -42.9%), vegetable or fruit preparations (down -25.8%), plastics as a material (down -25.5%), milling products (down -19.4%) and aluminum (down -18.6%).

Brazil’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Russia amounted to $4.5 billion or 4.4% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -4.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 95.5% of Brazil’s imports from South Korea.

Electronic equipment: $1.4 billion
Ships, boats: $527.5 million
Vehicles: $525.1 million
Machinery: $482.8 million
Plastics: $315.1 million
Pharmaceuticals: $210.6 million
Iron and steel: $179.2 million
Organic chemicals: $169.5 million
Other chemical goods: $132.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $129.7 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $52.3 million
Iron or steel products: $48.8 million
Rubber: $41.9 million
Other base metal goods: $32.1 million
Aluminum: $20.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from South Korea under the ships and boats product category via a 599,322% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 240.3%) and pharmaceuticals (up 47.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were aluminum (down -39.1%), machinery (down -27.4%), rubber (down -23%), electronic equipment (down -22.9%), products made from iron or steel (down -20.6%) and miscellaneous base metal goods (down -19.3%).

Brazil’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Brazil amounted to $4.2 billion or 2.6% of overall Brazilian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 2.4% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96% of Brazil’s imports from Japan.

Machinery: $926 million
Vehicles: $831 million
Ships, boats: $587.7 million
Electronic equipment: $444.9 million
Organic chemicals: $305.9 million
Medical, technical equipment: $281.2 million
Iron or steel products: $185 million
Rubber: $113.8 million
Plastics: $101.4 million
Iron and steel: $66.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $61.7 million
Other chemical goods: $44.9 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $28.7 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $27.7 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $16.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Brazilian imports from Japan under the aircraft and spacecraft product category via a 2,392% gain in revenue then ships and boats (up 168.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Brazil’s top 15 imported products were base metal tools or cutlery (down -47%), pharmaceuticals (down -28.6%), tanning or dyeing extracts (down -22.9%), rubber (down -19.7%), electronic equipment (down -15.3%) and medical or technical equipment (down -13.8%).

Brazil’s Main Imports from India

In 2020, India’s exports to Brazil amounted to $4.2 billion or 2.6% of overall Brazilian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.6% of Brazil’s imports from India.

Organic chemicals: $1.2 billion
Other chemical goods: $507.2 million
Pharmaceuticals: $372.2 million
Machinery: $325.7 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $265.6 million
Vehicles: $193.3 million
Man-made filaments: $135 million
Aluminum: $131.2 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $113.2 million
Electronic equipment: $103.9 million
Iron and steel: $88.5 million
Rubber: $84.9 million
Medical, technical equipment: $70.9 million
Plastics: $57.4 million
Iron or steel products: $57 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Brazilian imports from India under the vehicles product category via a 40.5% gain in revenue, machinery (up 34.1%), organic chemicals (up 13.7%), electronic equipment (up 13.1%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 10.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Brazil’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -52.6%), man-made filaments (down -39.4%), products made from iron or steel (down -17.7%), tanning or dyeing extracts (down -16.1%) and rubber (down -11%).

Brazil’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Brazil amounted to $4.2 billion or 2.6% of overall Brazilian imports.

That dollar amount represents a 19.6% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.2% of Brazil’s imports from France.

Machinery: $1 billion
Organic chemicals: $437.5 million
Pharmaceuticals: $365.3 million
Other chemical goods: $332.9 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $323.9 million
Electronic equipment: $238.2 million
Plastics: $199.5 million
Vehicles: $157.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $156.6 million
Other base metal goods: $110.1 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $95.7 million
Iron or steel products: $89.6 million
Rubber: $58.7 million
Arms, ammunition: $49.2 million
Beverages: $37.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Brazilian imports from France under the arms including ammunition product category via a 1,265% gain in revenue, machinery (up 130.5%), miscellaneous base metal goods (up 118.5%), aircraft and spacecraft (up 31.8%), vehicles (up 21.5%) and products made from iron or steel (up 14.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Brazil’s top 15 imported products were perfumes and cosmetics (down -20.8%), beverages (down -18%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (down -16%).

Brazil’s Main Imports from Italy

In 2020, Italy’s exports to Brazil amounted to $4.1 billion or 2.6% of overall Brazilian imports.

That dollar amount represents a flatlining 0.8% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 85% of Brazil’s imports from Italy.

Machinery: $1.3 billion
Pharmaceuticals: $495.3 million
Electronic equipment: $310.3 million
Vehicles: $279.3 million
Organic chemicals: $227.9 million
Plastics: $172.5 million
Iron or steel products: $147.4 million
Medical, technical equipment: $145.7 million
Other chemical goods: $88.7 million
Rubber: $77.3 million
Iron and steel: $51.6 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $49.1 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $48.1 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $42.7 million
Beverages: $42 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Brazilian imports from Italy under the vehicles product category via a 54.8% gain in revenue, cereal or milk preparations (up 18.2%), organic chemicals (up 14.7%), rubber (up 13.3%), machinery (up 12.6%) and electronic equipment (up 10.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Brazil’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -15%), medical or technical equipment (down -14%) then beverages (down -9.1%).

Brazil’s Main Imports from Mexico

In 2020, Mexico’s exports to Brazil amounted to $3.9 billion or 2.4% of overall Brazilian imports.

That dollar amount represents an -8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 87.3% of Brazil’s imports from Mexico.

Vehicles: $927.2 million
Machinery: $639.6 million
Electronic equipment: $593.7 million
Organic chemicals: $266.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $247.9 million
Plastics: $117.5 million
Fertilizers: $87.2 million
Rubber: $82.1 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $74.5 million
Copper: $65.6 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $58.8 million
Zinc: $55.7 million
Aluminum: $52.8 million
Glass: $51.1 million
Pharmaceuticals: $50.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Brazilian imports from Mexico under the aircraft and spacecraft product category via a 2,095% gain in revenue, copper (up 321.2%), fertilizers (up 88.6%), glass (up 79.4%) and machinery (up 33.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Brazil’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -36.1%), zinc (down -26.2%), organic chemicals (down -14%), pharmaceuticals (down -12.5%) and medical or technical equipment (down -9.5%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Brazil, Borders of Brazil.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Brazil’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries