Brazil’s farming exports to Venezuela plunged under Maduro

Brazil’s exports of agricultural products to Venezuela plunged during the Nicolás Maduro presidential term, according to data from Agrostat, the Agriculture Ministry’s trade database. Figures since 2013 show a contraction in volumes, revenues and in the diversification of Brazil’s export basket. Despite some volatility, sales have at no point returned to the levels seen at the beginning of the last decade.

In 2013, shipments totaled $2.63 billion and 1.54 million tonnes, according to Agrostat data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The downturn began as early as 2014 and deepened in 2015, with sharp declines across the main segments.

From that point on, exports fluctuated at lower levels, with occasional recoveries that failed to be sustained over time. In 2025, considering the January–November period, total exports reached $513.5 million, with 948,000 tonnes shipped.

The contraction is most evident in segments that once accounted for a large share of bilateral trade. Exports of live animals (excluding fish) fell from $554.8 million and 234,400 tonnes in 2013 to $9.5 million and 698 tonnes in 2025.

Meat, which ranked among the leading items in 2013 with $1.22 billion and 329,000 tonnes, began to decline in 2014, with losses intensifying in 2015. In subsequent years, shipments remained low and irregular, ending 2025 at $1.14 million and 560 tonnes.

Other segments that were relevant when Maduro came to power also lost ground or ceased to appear consistently in the export basket. Juices, specific cocoa derivatives, oilseed products (excluding soybeans) and processed foods have shown only residual or intermittent presence in recent years. The result has been a reduction in the number of active sectors, with greater concentration.

Brazilian farming exports to Venezuela

Among the segments that maintained shipments, albeit on a smaller scale, beverages stand out. Exports fell from $193.7 million and 5,600 tonnes in 2013 to $44.8 million and 3,800 tonnes in 2025. Forest products declined from $112 million and 88,900 tonnes to $36.5 million and 39,200 tonnes over the same period, retaining relatively higher volumes than animal protein shipments.

Vegetables, legumes, roots and tubers are an exception. Exports increased from $1.1 million and 1,200 tonnes in 2013 to $15.1 million and 17,500 tonnes in 2025, expanding their share of the export basket over the years.

It is worth the mention that Brazil doesn’t exclusively export agricultural products to its northern neighbor. Data from the DataLiner system, from the company Datamar, for example, shows the predominance of processed products among the cargo shipped by sea to Venezuela. See below the five most exported products from Brazil to Venezuela between January and November 2015.

Top Containerized Exports to Venezuela | Jan – Nov 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Limited imports

Brazil’s farming imports from Venezuela have occurred on a limited scale and with fluctuations over time, linked to specific transactions. These movements do not point to a structural expansion trend, but rather to alternating years of higher and lower flows, restricted to a small number of products.

Cocoa and cocoa products appear recurrently as the top most imported item, accounting for most of the value in years with higher activity. In several periods, this segment represents virtually the entirety of agricultural imports.

Other products, such as beverages, vegetables and specific agricultural items, appear sporadically over the years, with low values. Many segments remain at zero for extended periods, reinforcing the limited diversification of the import basket.

In 2013, Brazil imported $8,900 from Venezuela, according to Agrostat data. In 2014 and 2015, there was a one-off increase to $500,100 and $617,100, respectively.

Between 2016 and 2019, imports fluctuated within a relatively narrow range, with annual values between $478,000 and $575,000, mirroring similar movements in volumes.

From 2020 onward, the data show renewed increases. In 2021 and 2022, the value imported exceeded $1 million, while in 2024 it reached around $1.57 million, the highest level since 2013.

In 2025, imports declined again to $526,600, with 526.6 tonnes shipped.

Source: Globo Rural

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