Table of Contents
What does Brazil import?
This article dives deep into top Brazil imports, such as machinery, fuels, electronics, and other significant categories, revealing the leading supplier countries and the reasons behind the surge in domestic demand.
What Does Brazil Import the Most?
Brazil’s imports reached US$262.5 billion in 2024, generating a positive trade balance of US$74.6 billion. From January to August 2025, imports had already reached US$182 billion, according to TradeInt’s verified Brazil trade data.
From January to August 2025, Brazil’s top imports were led by machinery and mechanical appliances (US$26.83B, 14.74%), followed by mineral fuels and oils (US$21.17B, 11.63%). Other key categories included electrical equipment (US$17.4B, 9.56%), vehicles and parts (US$14.1B, 7.74%), and organic compounds (US$8.6B, 4.72%), reflecting Brazil’s reliance on industrial inputs, energy, and technology products.
Major Brazil Imports from January to August 2025:
- Machinery & mechanical appliances (HS 84) – US$26.83 billion: Brazil’s largest import, covering industrial machinery and equipment that power its factories and infrastructure projects.
- Mineral fuels, oils & waxes (HS 27) – US$21.17 billion: Essential for Brazil’s energy needs, from transport to electricity generation.
- Electrical equipment (HS 85) – US$17.40 billion: Includes electronics, appliances, and components vital for technology and manufacturing.
- Vehicles & parts (HS 87) – US$14.10 billion: A major category, supporting Brazil’s automotive sector with cars, trucks, and spare parts.
- Organic compounds (HS 29) – US$8.60 billion: Widely used in chemical and pharmaceutical industries, crucial for industrial production.
- Pharmaceutical products (HS 30) – US$7.84 billion: Medicines and healthcare products to meet domestic medical demand.
- Fertilizers (HS 31) – US$7.49 billion: Key to supporting Brazil’s massive agricultural sector.
#Top 1 Import Product: Machinery & Mechanical Appliances
When asked the question “what does Brazil import the most?”, the answer is machinery and mechanical appliances (HS 84), according to TradeInt’s verified Brazil trade data.
In H1 2025, China (27.27%) led with cost-efficient industrial machinery and components, while the United States (26.32%) closely followed, supplying heavy equipment vital for agribusiness and mining. Germany (7.48%) added precision engineering for Brazil’s automotive and industrial sectors, as France (5.61%) bolstered aviation and defense. Meanwhile, Italy (4.9%) and Japan (3.1%) contributed with automotive, robotics, and specialized equipment, reflecting a diverse supplier base that fuels Brazil’s manufacturing growth and infrastructure ambitions.
Major country trade partners exported machinery & mechanical appliances to Brazil:
- China – 27.27%
- Economic importance: Industrial machinery, electrical equipment, low-cost components; lowers production costs, raises dependency risk.
- USA – 26.32%
- Economic importance: Heavy machinery, agricultural and oil & gas equipment; supports agribusiness, mining, infrastructure.
- Germany – 7.48%
- Economic importance: Automotive, factory automation, precision engineering; boosts car manufacturing and industrial productivity.
- France – 5.61%
- Economic importance: Aerospace, defense, specialized engines; strengthens aviation and high-tech sectors.
- Italy – 4.90%
- Economic importance: Machinery, automotive equipment; supports manufacturing and construction.
- Japan – 3.10%
- Economic importance: Automotive parts, robotics, electronics machinery; supports automotive and tech capacity.
Meanwhile, Brazil primarily imports machinery from China, the United States, and Germany, with Italy and France also playing important roles. In 2024, China alone supplied 31.4% of Brazil’s machinery imports, compared to almost nothing two decades ago. U.S. and German companies continue to dominate advanced industrial and precision equipment, while Italy and France provide specialized machines for manufacturing and technology.
These imports include:
- Industrial equipment for factories and construction
- Agricultural machinery, which is rebounding with an expected 8.2% growth in 2025 after shrinking nearly 37% between 2022–2024
- Mechanical components for transport and technology sectors
Another reason for the heavy reliance on machinery Brazil imports is the country’s outdated equipment base.
A recent survey showed machines in Brazilian plants average 14 years in use, with 40% operating beyond their recommended lifespan. Especially with high domestic interest rates (14.25% in March 2025), which make financing new equipment costly, machinery imports in Brazil remain highly necessary, and sometimes the only option to modernize.
Brazil may rely heavily on machinery and fuels as imports, but its export profile highlights a distinct set of strengths.
#Top 2 Import Product: Oil & Fuels
In 2024, according to TradeInt’s latest Brazil trade database, Brazil’s top crude oil import partners are led by Saudi Arabia (22.21%), supplying medium to heavy sour crude ideal for Brazil’s refineries. The United States (16.73%) follows with light sweet crude (WTI) and refined products, enhancing Brazil’s gasoline and diesel output. Angola (11.63%) remains a key Atlantic source of medium crude, while Guyana (9.89%) emerges as an important supplier of light offshore crude for diversification. Algeria (8.42%) contributes light crude and condensates, essential for blending and petrochemicals.
Major Brazil Import Products:
- Saudi Arabia – 22.21%
Economic importance: Medium to heavy sour crude, optimal for Brazil’s refineries.
- United States – 16.73%
Economic importance: Light sweet crude (WTI) + refined petroleum products.
- Angola – 11.63%
Economic importance: Medium crude oil from West Africa, easy Atlantic shipping.
- Guyana – 9.89%
Economic importance: Offshore light crude, supports diversification.
- Algeria – 8.42%
Economic importance: Light crude and condensates, vital for blending & petrochemicals.
- Gabon – 8.16%
Economic importance: Heavier crude compatible with complex refineries.
Other key Brazil import products:
- Argentina – 6.20%: Crude and refined fuels like diesel, regional trade support.
- Ghana – 4.61%: Light crude, reduces reliance on the Middle East.
- Nigeria – 4.41%: SuppliesBonny Light crude, high quality for balance with heavy imports.
However, the picture looks different for refined fuels like diesel and gasoline.
Brazil strongly confirms that it does not buy crude oil directly from Russia, unlike China and India, but it has become the 3rd largest buyer of Russian refined oil products in the world. These imports have grown quickly, up to 40% in 2024 compared to the year before, the Russia’s Pivot to Asia news stated.
In June 2025 alone, Brazil bought about US$483 million worth of Russian fuels, and since early 2023, it has spent almost US$22 billion. Today, half of Brazil’s diesel and gasoline imports come from Russia, while about 13% come from the United States.
Overall, Brazil imports about 20% of the diesel and less than 10% of the gasoline it uses each year. While U.S. lawmakers have pressured Brazil to reduce Russian imports, Brazil has chosen to keep energy trade open and diversified, saying it won’t tie its fuel policy to sanctions.
Did you know, while Saudi Arabia and the United States are Brazil’s top crude oil import partners, they are also the leading crude oil exporting countries, with one value that can be nearly US$20 billion?
📖 Read this article about the top 10 crude oil exporting countries in the world in 2024.
#Top 3 Import Product: Electrical Goods
From January to May 2025, TradeInt’s global trade database reported revealed that data processing machines stand out with the fastest growth rate at 57% at an import value of USD 900M from Vietnam, reflecting Brazil’s rapid digital transformation. Brazil’s key technology and industrial exports showed strong growth, led by IT goods (US$3.25B, +22.9%) to the United States, and refrigerators (US$2.40B, +27%) to Argentina. Other notable exports included telecom equipment (US$1.79B) to Mexico, industrial automation devices (US$1.32B) to Paraguay, underscoring Brazil’s expanding role in high-value manufacturing and tech-driven trade.
Major Brazil electrical goods import globally:
- IT Goods (HS 4011) – US$3.25B (+22.9%), United States
- Economic importance: Largest tech-related export, key to Brazil–US trade relations.
- Refrigerators (HS 0703) – US$2.40B (+27%), Argentina
- Economic importance: Strengthens Brazil’s position in regional household appliance supply chains.
- Telecom Equipment (HS 8517) – US$1.79B (+12.5%), Mexico
- Economic importance: Supports North American telecom infrastructure demand.
- Industrial Automation Devices (HS 8544) – US$1.32B (+11.5%), Paraguay
- Economic importance: Critical for industrial modernization and regional supply integration.
- Data Processing Machines (HS 8471) – US$900.95M (+57%), Vietnam
- Economic importance: Fastest-growing category, showing Brazil’s competitiveness in global digital hardware trade.
According to the latest insight on the question “what does Brazil import?” by Abinee, within the first five months of 2025, imports into Brazil of electronics, data processing machinery, and telecommunications hardware reached around US$20 billion, a 6.7% increase over the same period in 2024. This makes electronics one of the top categories in Brazil imports, just behind machinery and fuels.
A mix of factors is driving growth:
- A stronger Brazilian real, which made imported goods cheaper.
- Rising demand for servers and IT equipment as new data centers open across the country.
- An oversupply of Asian products, especially from China, which redirected exports from the U.S. and Europe into Brazil.
China is the dominant supplier.
In 2024, total imports from China in this sector reached US$63.6 billion. However, between January and May 2025 alone, Brazil imported US$29.5 billion in electronic goods from China, representing a 26% increase from the same period a year earlier. The U.S. and Europe remain important for high-tech and specialized products, but Chinese brands, especially in smartphones and telecom hardware, are capturing a growing share of the Brazilian market.
On the other hand, Brazil’s electrical goods imports in early 2025 show strong momentum, particularly in IT goods, refrigerators, and telecom equipment, which are driving growth across both consumer and industrial sectors.
#Top 4 Import Product: Automotive & Vehicle Parts
Imports into Brazil have been rising quickly from 2024 to 2025.
In the first half of 2025, Brazil imported nearly 189,800 vehicles, equal to the yearly output of a large domestic auto plant, with the main suppliers being China, Argentina, Mexico, the United States, and Germany.
Among those, China has become the leading import partner in electric and hybrid vehicles, mainly because of Chinese affordable electric and hybrid cars at scale, redirecting shipments from Europe to Brazil where tariffs are lower. In April 2024, Brazil imported 40,900 EVs and hybrids from China, a 13-fold increase compared to the previous year. Over 52% of all EV imports in 2024 came from China, making Brazil the second-largest global destination for Chinese cars after Russia. This surge also pushed Brazil past Belgium as a key export hub for Chinese automakers.
At the same time, Brazil still relies on traditional partners for other types of vehicles:
- China dominates affordable EVs and hybrids.
- Argentina and Mexico focus on conventional cars and light vehicles.
- The U.S. and Germany supply premium cars, trucks, and technology-heavy models.
Meanwhile, the boom in imports has come alongside slower local sales.
Overall retail sales fell 2.9% in 2025, with locally produced vehicles declining 8%. Imported models now make up 19% of Brazil’s car market, up significantly in just a few years. ANFAVEA, Brazil’s auto manufacturers’ association, warns that this trend threatens the industry’s 1.3 million jobs and may discourage the R$180 billion (~US$33.9 billion) investment planned for EV and hybrid development.
The government is gradually restoring the 35% import tariff on electric and hybrid vehicles, set to be fully reinstated by 2026–2027. Until then, temporary tax-free quotas have allowed automakers to import more vehicles before tariffs rise, fueling the recent surge.
In contrast to import of automation, the agriculture export sector is strengthening the country’s trade performance, accounting for 49% of Brazil’s export, with top products known worldwide like coffee, beef, etc.
🔍 See a full analysis of Brazil’s top export sector, Brazil agriculture export in 2025.
#Top 5 Import Product: Organic and Inorganic Chemicals
Brazil imports for some organic and inorganic chemicals subsectors have seen a surge YoY from 2024 to 2025 according to TradeInt‘s global trade database.
In 2024, Brazil’s organic and inorganic chemical imports reflected strong demand across healthcare and agriculture. Human and animal blood products reached US$5.89B (+2.24%), critical for pharma and biotech. Medicines followed at US$5.86B (+2.23%), sustaining healthcare needs. Agrochemicals such as insecticides and herbicides totaled US$4.79B (+1.83%), supporting crop protection. Fertilizer imports remained vital: mineral fertilizers US$4.11B (+1.71%), nitrogen fertilizers US$3.81B (+1.57%), and potash fertilizers (+1.45%) for large-scale farming. These imports highlight Brazil’s reliance on chemicals for food security and medical supply stability.
Major Brazil organic & inorganic chemicals imported in 2024:
- Human blood & animal blood products – 2.24% (US$5.89B)
- Economic importance: Critical for healthcare, supporting transfusions, vaccines, and pharmaceutical R&D.
- Medicines for treatment – 2.23% (US$5.86B)
- Economic importance: Essential for healthcare demand, reducing pressure on local pharma production.
- Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides – 1.83% (US$4.79B)
- Economic importance: Vital for agriculture, safeguarding crops, and food security.
- Mineral fertilizers or chemical fertilizers – 1.71% (US$4.11B)
- Economic importance: Strengthens agribusiness by boosting soybean, corn, and sugarcane yields.
- Mineral nitrogen fertilizers – 1.57% (US$3.81B)
- Economic importance: Provides nutrients for intensive farming, supporting Brazil’s role as a global food supplier.
- Mineral potash fertilizers – 1.45% (Value not disclosed)
- Economic importance: Secures soil fertility, sustaining large-scale farming and global demand.
According to TradeInt, Brazil’s import growth in chemicals reflects both structural weaknesses in domestic production and rising demand across key industries. Local manufacturers face high input costs and limited capacity, making it difficult to compete with cheaper global suppliers. As a result, Brazil depends heavily on imports not only for fertilizers that sustain its agribusiness exports but also for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and industrial compounds used in food processing and cosmetics. This highlights how foreign suppliers play an increasingly central role in ensuring Brazil’s industrial and agricultural competitiveness.
Conclusion
In short, what does Brazil import?
Machinery, fuels, electronics, vehicles, and chemicals remain the backbone of what the country buys abroad, which clearly highlights both the country’s reliance on global partners like China, the United States, Germany, and Russia, and the growing role imports will play in meeting future demand. With industrial modernization, clean energy expansion, and rising consumer needs on the horizon, Brazil’s dependence on foreign suppliers is expected to deepen in the coming years.
To explore the complete trade flows and supplier details behind these top imports, book a demo with TradeInt and see the full data in action.
