Brazilian high-tech exports rise, but dependence on low-tech goods persists, CNI assess

Brazilian exports of high-tech products grew 7.7% in 2025 but remained far below sales of low-technology goods, according to a survey released Tuesday (26) by the National Confederation of Industry, or CNI.

High-tech products totaled US$9.1 billion last year and accounted for just 2.7% of Brazil’s total exports. Low-technology goods, by contrast, reached US$130.7 billion, equivalent to 37.5% of Brazilian foreign sales.

The study, based on data from the Foreign Trade Studies Center Foundation, or Funcex, shows that high-tech exports remain 15 times smaller than exports of low-technology goods.

Challenge

In a statement, CNI’s trade and international integration manager, Constanza Negri, said the scenario represents a challenge for the competitiveness of Brazilian industry.

“Quality economic growth depends on progress in medium-high and high-technology segments,” she said.

According to Negri, increasing the share of those sectors is essential to diversifying Brazil’s export basket and strengthening the international presence of domestic industry.

Deficit

The survey also shows that higher consumption in Brazil was met mainly by imported products.

Import volumes rose 6.1% in 2025, while the manufacturing industry ended the year with a record trade deficit of US$71.3 billion, the largest in the historical series that began in 1997.

Manufacturing imports reached US$259.7 billion, up 8.6% from the previous year.

According to CNI, the chemicals, machinery and electronic equipment, and motor vehicle sectors accounted for more than half of the industry’s foreign purchases.

Exports

Despite the record trade deficit, Brazilian industrial exports grew 3.7% in 2025 to US$188.4 billion.

Manufacturing’s share of Brazilian exports rose from 53.9% to 54.1%. The increase came even as international prices for manufactured goods fell 1.7%.

Semi-durable and non-durable consumer goods reached a record share of Brazilian exports in 2025. The category accounted for 22.8% of the export basket, driven mainly by sales of processed food and beverages.

Beef exports to China stood out during the period.

According to the study, the food, motor vehicle and metallurgy sectors accounted for 58% of Brazilian industrial exports.

United States and China

The United States remained the main destination for Brazilian manufacturing exports, even as sales fell 4.2%. Exports to the U.S. market totaled US$30.2 billion.

China increased purchases of Brazilian industrial products by 19.4%, to US$22 billion in 2025. The food sector was the main driver of export growth to the Asian country.

On the import side, China remained the leading supplier of industrial goods to Brazil, with sales of US$70.6 billion.

Argentina

Brazilian exports to Argentina reached US$18.1 billion in 2025, up 31.4% from the previous year.

The performance was driven by the automotive sector, where sales to Argentina grew 57.2%. Passenger vehicles, trucks and auto parts led exports to the neighboring country.

Source: Agência Brasil

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