Brazil-China, record trade in the first nine months of 2026

Exports up 12% to 84.7 billion dollars, imports +9.9%

Trade between Brazil and China reached record levels in the first nine months of 2026. Between January and September, Brazilian exports to the Chinese market increased by 12% year-on-year, to $84.7 billion, while imports grew by 9.9%, to $58.6 billion. Brazil’s trade surplus thus reached 26.1 billion dollars. This was reported by the Ministry of Development. Brazilian sales remain concentrated mainly in raw materials.

Soybeans are the main exported product, with 30 billion dollars, equal to 35.4% of the total. This is followed by oil, with $21.8 billion, up 49% compared to the same period in 2025, and iron ore, with $13.8 billion. Together, the three products account for more than 77% of exports to China. On the import front, Chinese electrified vehicles stand out, for a total value of 5.9 billion dollars, equal to approximately 10% of Brazilian purchases from China. Between January and September, Brazil also imported plug-in hybrid cars for 2.9 billion dollars and electric cars for 2.4 billion. Brazilian exports of emerging products are also growing. Sales of spodumene, the mineral from which lithium is extracted, to China reached $172.3 million, up 339% year-on-year.