Tariffs drive 11.3% drop in exports to the United States in April

Brazilian exports to the United States fell 11.3% in April from the same month last year, while sales to China rose 32.5% over the same period. The figures were released on Thursday (May 7) by the Foreign Trade Secretariat, or Secex, under Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services.

Exports to the United States totaled $3.121 billion in April this year, down from $3.517 billion in April 2025. Imports of U.S. goods fell 18.1%, dropping from $3.780 billion to $3.097 billion.

With those figures, Brazil’s trade balance with the United States posted a surplus of $20 million in April.

The following breakdown highlights Brazil’s leading containerized exports to the U.S. for the first quarter of 2026, featuring a year-over-year (YoY) comparison and current market share data:

Top Exports to the U.S. | Q1 2026 vs. Q1 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Tariffs weigh on trade

This was the ninth consecutive decline in Brazilian exports to the U.S. market since the 50% surtax imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in mid-2025.

Despite the removal of some Brazilian products from the tariff list late last year, the ministry estimates that 22% of Brazilian exports remain subject to the duties imposed in July 2025. The group includes items subject only to the additional 40% tariff, as well as products that combine the extra rate with the 10% base tariff.

According to Herlon Brandão, director of the Department of Foreign Trade Statistics and Studies, the figures point to a gradual recovery in trade flows.

“We are still seeing lower exports, but they have been recovering over the months. This year, we have moved back above $3 billion after several months below that level,” he said.

China gains ground

In the opposite direction, Brazilian exports to China rose 32.5% in April, reaching $11.610 billion, up from $8.763 billion in the same month of 2025.

Imports from the Asian country also increased, rising 20.7% from $5.018 billion to $6.054 billion.

The result gave Brazil a trade surplus of $5.56 billion with China in the fourth month of the year.

From January to April, Brazilian exports to the Chinese market grew 25.4%, totaling $35.61 billion. Imports edged down 0.4%, to $23.96 billion.

As a result, Brazil’s surplus with China in the period reached $11.65 billion.

Crude oil declines

The Secex official also commented on the drop in Brazilian crude oil exports recorded last month. According to Herlon Brandão, the movement is linked to volatility in the international market rather than to the export tax created by the government to help finance lower diesel prices.

The measure was adopted amid the international oil price surge triggered by the war involving Iran.

“It is possible that we will see this increase again in the following month. So I do not believe it is possible to attribute this to the crude oil export tax,” he said.

Brandão also said Brazil remains competitive in the oil sector because of its low production costs and strong external demand, which could support a recovery in exports as early as May.

In April, crude oil export revenue rose more than 10% from April last year, but the increase was tied to a 23.7% rise in average prices, influenced by the war in the Middle East. Export volume fell 10.6% last month, according to Secex.

Source: Agência Brasil

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