2026.04.0718:44:29UTC+00Brazil Trade Surplus Narrows as Imports Surge

Brazil recorded a trade surplus of $6.40 billion in March 2026, a decline of 17.2% compared with the same month a year earlier. Imports increased 20.1% to $25.20 billion. Within imports, purchases by the extractive industry rose 24.1%, driven by a 33.7% increase in base metal ores, a 59.9% jump in coal, and a 19.4% rise in crude oil.

Manufacturing imports advanced 20.8%, with notable increases in medicines (up 72.2%), chemical fertilizers (up 61.0%), and passenger vehicles (up 204.2%). By contrast, agricultural imports fell 10.2%, although imports of specific products surged: live fish purchases rose 28.9%, fresh fruits and nuts climbed 26.6%, and soybean imports jumped 782.0%.

On the export side, Brazilian sales abroad grew 10.0% to $31.60 billion. Exports from agriculture edged up 1.1%, extractive industry exports surged 36.4%, and manufacturing exports increased 5.4%. By destination, exports to Argentina fell 5.9% and shipments to the United States declined 9.1%, while sales to the European Union rose 7.3% and exports to China increased 17.8%.