Brazil extends 10.8% import tariff on natural rubber through 2027

At a meeting of the Executive Management Committee (Gecex) of the Foreign Trade Chamber (Camex), the Federal Government approved the extension of the 10.8% import tariff on natural rubber for another 24 months, through August 2027. The decision responds to demands from producers and industry organizations, such as the São Paulo Association of Natural Rubber Producers and Processors (APABOR) and the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA).

The measure strengthens Brazil’s trade policy by protecting the domestic industry from competition with Southeast Asian countries, mitigating negative impacts on rubber tree cultivation, and encouraging domestic production, thereby contributing to greater market balance.

The Secretary of Agricultural Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SPA/Mapa), Guilherme Campos, emphasized the importance of the decision in valuing national rubber and promoting the development and self-sufficiency of the sector. “The 10.8% tariff already in effect was maintained for an additional two years, protecting domestic producers from the predatory competition practiced mainly by Asian countries. This is a strategic action that will provide more security and predictability for Brazilian producers,” he stated.

He also highlighted the socioeconomic effects of the measure. “Rubber tree cultivation is a labor-intensive activity that helps keep rural workers in the countryside and provides good wages. With this decision, we strengthen the sector, expand employment and income opportunities, and encourage investment in sustainable plantations,” he added.

The extension of the tariff directly contributes to valuing domestic production, ensuring better price conditions for Brazilian producers and stimulating domestic output until self-sufficiency is reached. Currently, 40% to 50% of the rubber used in Brazil still depends on imports to meet demand.

According to data from the Secretariat of Trade and International Relations at Mapa (SCRI), Brazil produces more than 370,000 tonnes of natural rubber per year on average. São Paulo accounts for more than 60% of this volume, followed by states such as Minas Gerais, Goiás, Bahia, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, and Espírito Santo. Over the past five years, domestic production has supplied an average of 57% of internal demand. In the same period, the main external suppliers were Indonesia, Thailand, Ivory Coast, and Malaysia.

With the extension, the Federal Government aims to increase producers’ income, encourage the expansion of cultivated areas, and move closer to self-sufficiency. The decision is also aligned with the National Plan for the Promotion of Natural Rubber, which supports the bioeconomy, promotes sustainable practices, and enhances the sector’s competitiveness.

Read the full decision at: https://www.gov.br/mdic/pt-br/assuntos/camex/outros-documentos/deliberacoes/deliberacoes-da-228a-reuniao-ordinaria-do-comite-executivo-de-gestao-gecex

Source: Informativo dos Portos

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