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How to Export to Brazil From USA and Canada?
6 Things you Need to Know.

LAC Team

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Updated: October 14, 2021

Discover how to export to Brazil from the USA and Canada with LAC!
With around 200 million people, Brazil is one of the largest markets in South America. This makes it ideal for any company that is looking to grow and expand its business to the Brazilian market. An important requirement for any business looking to export to Brazil is to understand the country’s rules and legislation regarding international trade.

A Resurgent Economy

Looking for new frontiers for your international business? Then it is time to start exporting to Brazil. If you are wondering whether this is the right time to start operating in Brazil, consider these factors:

  • Large spending power: Brazil is reputed for its spending power and in fact, Forbes ranked it fifth in the number of billionaires. Whatever product you are shipping to Brazil, there will be a ready market, especially now that the economy is projected to grow.
  • Large economy: As the 9th largest global economy, you can bet there are myriad opportunities to grow your business. With the right cargo freight partner, you can easily make your mark and watch your investment grow.
  • Diverse range of imports: There is a high demand for imports including drugs and medicine, crude oil, automotive, electronics, auto parts, liquid oils, and many more. You can consult with your cargo-partner to identify the best products to help launch your operations in the Brazilian market.
  • Regional economic powerhouse: You can use Brazil as the base of your Latin market operations because of the good infrastructure and lower taxes.

How to ship and export easily to Brazil from the USA or Canada?

Our experts answer to 6 of the most important questions you may have before you start exporting goods to Brazil: 

1. What are Brazil’s main imports?

Brazil imported around 177 billion dollars worth of products in 2019. The breakdown of those 150 billion dollars products imported looks like this:

    • Oil and mineral fuels ● 24 billion (13.5%)
    • Electrical equipment and machinery ● 22.1 billion (12.5%)
    • Machinery, computers and components ● 21.3 billion (12%)
    • Cars and other vehicles ● 12.2 billion (6.9%)
    • Organic chemicals ● 11 billion (6.2%)
    • Fertilizers ● 9.1 billion (5.2%)
    • Plastics and plastic products ● 7.4 billion (4.2%)
    • Pharmaceuticals ● 7.3 billion (4.1%)
    • Chemical goods ● 5.4 billion (3%)
    • Optical and medical equipment ● 5.3 billion (3%)

Altogether these main imports account for 70.6% of total imported products to Brazil. The remainder goes to various miscellaneous products.

2. How to identify prospective Brazilian importers?

There are several online tools that are provided directly by the Brazilian government:

    • The Catalogue of Brazilian importers lists all the existing companies importing to the country
    • The Brazilian Trade Guide lists all the companies that have imported and exported to Brazil specifically.

Additionally, you can find much useful information on ConnectAmericas, the first social network for businesses in the Americas.

3. What tariffs must be paid for products imported to Brazil?

On average and for most goods the tariff is 10.73%. Brazil is a member of Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries that include Argentina, Paraguay, Venezuela and Uruguay that ensures free movement of goods through these countries. The alliance also has trade deals with the EU, Chile, and Bolivia.

4. Are there packing and labeling requirements to export to Brazil?

Yes, there are! The Brazilian government wants their residents to be properly informed on what they buy. In accordance with this, every product has to contain specific information about the quantity, quality, the composition of the product, potential health and safety risks, origin, date of expiry, price etc. All the information must be clear, precise and easy to understand. Portuguese translation is mandatory. The unit of measurement must include a metric equivalent.

5. What is the best shipping method to export goods to Brazil from USA or Canada?

When asking yourself how to easily export to Brazil from USA or Canada, one of the first things you will need to choose is the adapted shipping method for your cargo. Depending on where you are shipping from, goods can be transported to Brazil by air or sea.

When it comes to overseas trading, most of the products are transported to Brazil via ocean. Ocean shipping is the most common mode of transportation even when shipping from nearby countries such as Argentina and Uruguay.

6. What foreign exchange controls should I consider when exporting to Brazil?

As per the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all payments related to imported goods must be made in foreign currency and under an exchange contract with a financial entity authorized by the Central Bank of Brazil. All transactions must be declared in the SISCOMEX system. All payments made by Brazilian importers must be done from a local account. Payments from foreign accounts are not allowed.

Final Thoughts on How to Export to Brazil From USA and Canada

In conclusion, the Brazilian market is open to a wide range of products. With relatively low tariffs and easier regulations to comply, Brazil has become a great country to further expand your business!

If your business expansion plans include Brazil, then you may need a reliable partner to manage the logistics that go along with cargo exportation. Whether this requirement is a one off or will be part of your future operations, LAC is the partner you need.  We provide the most reliable and the safest freight forwarding services to Brazil from the US and Canada. You can be sure that your cargo will get where it needs to go securely and on time.

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