New month of DataLiner data: Brazilian exports decline; industry drives imports

Newly released data from Datamar’s Business Intelligence team shows that Brazilian container exports fell 0.1% between January and July 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. In contrast, July recorded a slight increase of 1.6%, signaling a possible recovery after months of fluctuation.

China remained the main destination for containerized shipments, but with a significant 14.1% decline. The United States, even amid trade tensions, registered a 4.3% increase, while Mexico dropped 9.9% in the period. In terms of products, meat led shipments (+1.1%), followed by wood (–6.9%) and cotton (–4.9%).

See below a comparison of Brazilian container exports in the first seven months of the year over the past four years. The chart was prepared with DataLiner data:

Brazilian Exports | Jan–July 2022–2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

Imports continue strong growth

On the other side, Brazil saw a sharp rise in container imports: +8.8% in the year to July compared with the first seven months of 2024, and +1.2% in July alone. Highlights included reactors, boilers, and machinery, which grew 34.1%, pointing to industrial investment; vehicles and auto parts also increased (+7.7%), as did plastics (+4.3%).

China was the main source of imports, with an increase of 12.4%; the United States registered a slight decline (–0.1%), and Germany remained stable (+0.3%).

See below a history of Brazilian container imports from January 2022 to July 2025. The chart was prepared with DataLiner data:

See below a comparison of Brazilian container imports in the first seven months of the year over the past four years. The chart was prepared with DataLiner data:

Brazilian Imports | Jan–July 2022–2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (Click here to request a demo)

Among neighboring countries, Argentina’s imports rose 56.8% and exports 2.4%, while Uruguay registered increases of 11.8% in imports and 5.8% in exports.

Economic scenario and future outlook

Overall, the country’s data presents mixed signals: GDP grew 5.7% in the first quarter but fell 0.8% in the second (IBC-Br). The trade surplus through July reached US$37 billion, 25% lower than a year earlier (MDIC). Still, the increase in machinery imports indicates continued investment, even amid high interest rates and forecasts of an economic slowdown in 2025–2026.

Analysts project both challenges and opportunities in the coming months. Market diversification, with a focus on India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, will be strategic in the face of tensions with the U.S. and fragmented Chinese demand. Investments in port infrastructure and a push for higher value-added products may bolster Brazil’s resilience in an increasingly fragmented global environment.

EU–Mercosur agreement

This week, the European Commission sent the long-awaited trade agreement with Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) for final approval by EU governments and the European Parliament, after more than 25 years of negotiations. The text includes safeguards to protect Europe’s agricultural sectors — such as a mechanism to launch investigations in the event of import increases above 10% or price drops, as well as a nearly €1 billion support fund for farmers.

If ratified by year-end, the treaty is expected to create the world’s largest free-trade zone, with a potential impact of up to 39% growth in European exports to Mercosur. For Brazil, the agreement could provide an additional boost to market diversification, supply chain consolidation, and investment attraction. However, challenges remain, including opposition from European countries such as France and Poland, as well as criticism from environmental groups over potential impacts on sustainable production.

Sharing is caring!