Trump tariffs hit Brazilian stone exports hard as Port of Vitória sees sharp decline

There is no better place to assess the impact of the U.S. tariff hike on Brazil than at the port. Most of the stone blocks and slabs produced in Espírito Santo are shipped through the Vila Velha Port Terminal (TVV), part of the Port of Vitória. Since August — when the 50% tariff on Brazilian exports to the United States took effect — shipments have dropped by nearly 30%.

According to Log-In, the company that operates the TVV, an average of 2,250 containers of stone were handled per month up to August. Today, that figure stands at around 1,600 containers, a 28.8% decline. The United States is the largest buyer of Brazilian stone, and Espírito Santo accounts for about 80% of the country’s stone industry — a business that generated more than US$ 700 million in exports to the U.S. in 2024 alone.

Initially, all types of natural stone were to be subject to the tariff, but quartzite — one of Brazil’s top-selling products — was excluded at the last minute, providing some relief. Still, as Log-In’s data shows, the measure has not resolved the downturn.

In addition to ongoing negotiations between the Brazilian and U.S. governments to address the issue, Brazil’s stone sector — led by Centrorochas, the national exporters’ association — has been actively lobbying in Washington.

Source: A Gazeta

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