Beef, Coffee, and Fruit Juice Drive Brazil to New Export Record to the U.S.

Driven by strong performances in beef, fruit juice, and coffee, Brazilian exports to the United States totaled USD 16.7 billion from January to May 2025, marking a 5.0% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the May special edition of the Brazil-U.S. Trade Monitor by Amcham Brasil.

This value sets a record for the period, reinforcing the U.S. as the top destination for Brazil’s industrialized goods.

U.S. imports from Brazil also increased, totaling USD 17.7 billion, a 9.9% rise, resulting in a USD 1 billion trade deficit for Brazil year-to-date.

In May alone, Brazil exported USD 3.6 billion, an 11.5% increase over May 2024. Export volume also grew significantly, up 16.8%.

“Even in a more challenging global environment, bilateral trade has shown resilience, with consistent growth in exchanges between the two countries. This reinforces Brazil’s role as a strategic partner to meet U.S. industry and consumer demand — and vice versa,” said Abrão Neto, President of Amcham Brasil.

Industrial Products Lead Brazilian Exports
From January to May, 79% of Brazilian exports to the U.S. consisted of industrial goods, including aircraft, fuels, processed foods, chemicals, and machinery.
Agribusiness products also gained prominence, leading the surge:
Beef: +196%
Fruit juice: +96.2%
Coffee: +42.1%
Aircraft: +27%

The report attributes this performance to Brazil’s global leadership in juice, meat, and coffee, as well as strong U.S. demand driven by consumer needs and climate-related impacts on American production.

Below is a historical overview of Brazilian beef exports to the United States starting from January 2022. The chart was created using data from DataLiner:

Brazilian Beef Exports to the United States | Jan 2022 – Apr 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Tariffs Impact Key Sectors: Pulp, Pig Iron, and Steel
On the other hand, some Brazilian sectors have felt the impact of U.S. tariffs, such as pulp, pig iron, and engineering equipment. According to Amcham, tariffs of up to 10%, coupled with competition from USMCA beneficiaries like Canada, have hampered Brazilian exports — especially pulp.

“We believe it’s essential to intensify dialogue and cooperation between Brazil and the United States, focusing on reducing trade barriers and expanding opportunities for trade and investment,” said Abrão Neto.

Warning Sign for Steel: Tariff Rises to 50%
The report raises concerns about the export of semi-finished steel. From January to May, the sector continued to show 7.3% growth in value and 28.4% in volume despite a 25% tariff.

However, some of these shipments may be redirected to Mexico, indicating a potential real drop in direct exports to the U.S.

This situation is likely to worsen: as of June 4, the tariff on steel doubled to 50%, which could further erode Brazil’s competitiveness in the coming months.

U.S. Trade Surplus and Bilateral Stability
While the U.S. global trade deficit widened by 46.7% through April, the Brazil-U.S. trade balance remained relatively stable and favorable to the U.S. Amcham sees this as evidence of a strategic and complementary relationship.

The organization stated it will continue to monitor trade flows, with a focus on supporting the competitiveness of Brazilian businesses, stimulating productive integration, and strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Agrofy News

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