Carnauba Wax Exports Rise Nearly 70% in 2024; China Becomes Main Destination

Carnauba (vegetable) wax exports from Ceará grew 67.07% in 2024, reaching 11.9 tonnes, compared with 7.1 tonnes in 2022. Export value also increased — from US$49.44 million in 2022 to US$76.9 million in 2024.

The strong performance boosted Ceará’s share of Brazil’s total carnauba wax exports to 71.19%, up from 55.74% in 2022 and 67.97% in 2023. Carnauba wax now accounts for 5.14% of Ceará’s total exports, compared with 2.11% in 2022 and 2.79% in 2023.

The data come from Enfoque Econômico No. 304 – Performance of Ceará’s Vegetable Wax Production in Recent Years, recently released by the Economic Studies Directorate (DIEC) of the Institute for Research and Economic Strategy of Ceará (Ipece).

Markets

According to public policy analyst Alexsandre Lira Cavalcante, co-author of the report with Ana Cristina Lima Maia, technical advisor at Ipece, Ceará exported vegetable wax to 37 countries in 2022, 42 in 2023, and 46 in 2024.

In 2022, the United States was the leading destination for Ceará’s carnauba wax (22.1%), followed by Germany (20.9%), Japan (14.1%), and China (11.1%).

By 2023, China had become the top market, accounting for 20.5% of exports, followed by Germany (20.3%), the United States (17.8%), and Japan (10.1%).

In 2024, China remained in first place, further increasing its share to 23.1%. The United States ranked second with 21.6%, followed by Germany (19.1%) and Japan (9.6%).

Carnauba wax is a highly valuable and versatile natural product, increasingly sought after as a sustainable alternative to petroleum- and animal-based derivatives. It is used in the food, cosmetics, personal hygiene, and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in automotive polishes for its deep, long-lasting shine. The wax also has multiple technical applications, including in paints, varnishes, adhesives, plastics, and rubber manufacturing.

Production Analysis

Ceará remains Brazil’s second-largest producer, behind Piauí, but has gained market share in recent years.

“Vegetable wax has been strengthening its presence in Ceará’s export portfolio, rising from 2.11% of the state’s total exports in 2022 to 5.24% in 2024, making it one of Ceará’s top export products,” said Ana Cristina.

According to Alexsandre Cavalcante, in 2022, 82 out of Ceará’s 184 municipalities produced carnauba wax. Granja, in the northern region, was the leading producer, accounting for 20.8% of the state’s output — over 1,700 tonnes of vegetable wax.

In 2023, production was recorded in 79 municipalities, with Granja (18%), Camocim (~13%), and Coreaú (7%) maintaining the top three positions. In 2024, Granja and Camocim again led production, with 18.8% and 13.0% shares, respectively.

Source: Government of Ceará

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