Brazil’s imports of medical products used in fight against Covid-19 grew 74% in first two months

The Foreign Trade Chamber (Camex) of the Economy Ministry recently waived import tariffs on 85 NCMs from the pharmaceutical and medical-hospital segments that are important in the flight against Covid-19. Analysis done by Datamar shows that in the first two months of 2020, 49,800 tons of these 85 NCMs have already been imported, equivalent to US$287.6 million. The ports of Santos, Itapoá, Itajaí, Navegantes and Rio de Janeiro handled 81.0% of the total volume of these products.

Import taxes were reduced to zero on kits for testing coronavirus, medical equipment and devices, and drugs such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and immunoglobulin. Items such as ethyl alcohol, alcohol gel, pure sodium chloride, medicinal oxygen and carbon dioxide are also listed; gauze, hydrogen peroxide, paper sheets, protective gloves, sterilizer, and needles; oxygenation and intubation equipment, artificial respiration devices, thermometers, diagnostic instruments and devices, masks, protective clothing against infectious agents, safety glasses, among others.

Comparison with 2019

In the first two months of this year, Datamar data shows a 74% spike in the import of items related to the prevention and treatment of Covid-19. Some significant items in this category are medical-surgical or laboratory sterilizers (+ 2,102%), clothing and accessories (+ 290.7%) and pharmaceutical products (+ 163%).

See table below for the NCMS that grew the most:

Source: Datamar

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