DataLiner: Brazilian exports slow down in the 1st four months, but imports indicate industrial recovery

Recently released data from Datamar’s Business Intelligence team show that, in the accumulated period of the first four months of the year, Brazilian container exports fell by 1% compared to the same period last year. Considering only April, shipments dropped 5.6% compared to April 2024.

Below is a comparison of container exports from January to April over the past four years. The chart was prepared using DataLiner data:

Brazilian Container Exports | Jan/Apr 2022-2025 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Brazil’s main trading partner, China, received 21% fewer containers from the country in the January-April period compared to the same period last year. In contrast, shipments to the United States showed a slight increase of 0.6%. Exports to Mexico also dropped significantly (-16.4%).

Meats continue to be Brazil’s top exported commodity in 2025, with a volume 5.5% higher in the first four months year-on-year, followed by wood, whose shipments dropped 6.2% in the same comparison, and cotton, which grew by 2.3%.

Analysis and Outlook
The decline in exports reflects a global scenario still marked by logistical and economic uncertainties. The sharper drop in April may be linked to the anticipation of shipments in the first quarter due to equipment shortages and the reshaping of maritime routes caused by tensions in the Red Sea. Additionally, the reduction in volumes sent to China may be attributed to a slowdown in Chinese economic activity, which temporarily reduces demand for Brazilian commodities, particularly forestry products and meats.

On the other hand, the relative stability in exports to the United States signals a gradual recovery of demand in that country, especially in the food sector. The drop in exports to Mexico may be related to seasonality and competition with other Latin American suppliers.

Brazilian container imports increased by 10.9% in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Considering only April, the increase in arrivals was more modest: 2.7%.

Brazilian Container Imports | Jan/Apr 2022-2025 | TEU

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

As with exports, China remains Brazil’s main trading partner for imports. In the first four months of 2025, Brazil imported 15.1% more volume from China than it did in the same period in 2024. Imports from the United States fell 4.2% in the same comparison. Another important trading partner during this period was India, which sent 30.3% more volume to Brazil in the first four months compared to 2024.

Imports of reactors, boilers, and machinery — the product category that received the most by Brazil during the period — grew an impressive 45.2% year-over-year, followed by plastics (+2.4%) and electrical equipment (+30.7%).

This growth in imports can be associated with the appreciation of the Brazilian real against the dollar earlier this year, inventory replenishment, and the resumption of industrial investments. India’s positive performance also suggests an expansion of trade partnerships beyond the traditional China-USA axis.

Plate
Data from DataLiner also indicate that container exports from the Plate region (Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay) experienced a slight increase of 0.8% in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Considering only April, shipments fell 1.5%.

Below is a comparison of container exports from the Plate region in the first four months over the past four years. The chart was created with DataLiner data:

Container Exports | Plate | Jan/Apr 2022-2025

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Plate region imports grew 34.3% comparing January-April 2025 to January-April 2024. In April 2025, compared to April 2024, growth was 38.8%.

Container Imports | Plate | Jan/Apr 2022-2025

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

The strong import growth in the region may indicate efforts to modernize production chains, especially in Argentina and Uruguay, as well as a response to rising domestic demand after years of economic contraction.

Expectations for the second half
Projections for the upcoming months indicate a possible gradual recovery of Brazilian exports, particularly if there is greater stability in logistics chains and improved demand from China. Sectors such as meats and cotton are expected to maintain positive performance, while forestry products may continue to face volatility.
Imports are expected to maintain a moderate growth pace, supported by currency normalization, inventory replenishment, and ongoing industrial investments. The trend is for sustained high volumes, particularly in machinery and equipment categories.

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