Brazilian exports to U.S. fall for ninth consecutive month

Brazilian exports to the United States posted their ninth consecutive monthly decline in April. Shipments were valued at a total US$3.1 billion, down 11.5% from the same month in 2025. Despite the negative result, the pace of the decline slowed down, pointing to a stabilization in bilateral trade as uncertainty persists over government negotiations and possible new tariffs.

From January to April, exports fell both for products subject to additional tariffs and for those exempt from extra duties. Goods not subject to the surcharge dropped 16.4%, while tariffed products fell 17%, according to a survey by Amcham. Among products covered by Section 232, copper, trucks and wood declined. Goods subject to the 10% surcharge posted a 23.7% drop.

The following breakdown outlines Brazil’s top ten exports to the U.S. by volume during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, according to data compiled by Datamar:

Top Exports to the U.S. | Q1 2026 | WTMT

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In 2025, Brazilian exports to the United States fell 6.6%, with declines across all sectors: manufacturing, down 4.2%; extractive industries, down 19.2%; and agriculture and livestock, down 3.8%. According to Amcham, the drop contrasted with the performance of Brazilian sales to other markets.

Brazilian industry was among the hardest hit, recording its first decline since 2020. Even so, the United States remained the main destination for Brazilian industrial exports, with US$30.2 billion, equivalent to 16% of the sector’s total exports.

Brazilian imports of U.S. products also fell in the first four months of 2026, down 13%. In 2025, however, they rose 11.3% to US$45.2 billion, the second-highest value in the historical series. The United States remained Brazil’s second-largest source of imports, accounting for 16.1% of the total.

Manufacturing accounted for 91.1% of imports from the United States in 2025, up 15% from the previous year. Extractive industries and agriculture and livestock posted declines of 15.4% and 35.2%, respectively.

According to Lia Valls, a researcher at FGV Ibre, the decline in exports to the United States was partially offset by higher sales to China in the second half of 2025. While export volume to the United States fell 21.3% between August and December, exports to China rose 29.8%.

Brazil’s trade balance with the United States shifted from a US$300 million deficit in 2024 to a US$7.5 billion deficit in 2025. According to Valls, the main factor was the decline in Brazilian exports to the U.S. market.

She said that, amid uncertainty in trade with the United States, many companies began redirecting sales to other markets, especially in the commodities segment.

While goods trade lost momentum, the services sector grew in 2025. Brazilian imports of U.S. services totaled US$25.7 billion, while exports reached US$14.3 billion, up 17% and 11.7%, respectively.

Despite trade tensions, Sergio Vale of MB Associados said the Brazilian economy was relatively little affected, especially compared with previous crises. Among the positive factors, he cited the tax reform, the critical minerals project and the growth in crude oil exports.

The main concern now relates to U.S. investigations under Section 301, which are considered more complex and longer-lasting in their effects.

For experts, the situation reinforces the need to expand trade partnerships. The Mercosur-European Union agreement and stronger ties with China are seen as natural paths to reduce dependence on the U.S. market.

José Augusto de Castro, from the Brazilian Foreign Trade Association, said the trade balance with the United States could begin to stabilize in the coming months, but stressed that the U.S. market remains strategic for Brazil.

Source: Valor Econômico

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