Brazil Finds Growth in Chinese Market As US Trade Falters
TeleSur English 8 February 2026
Brazil’s exports to the United States fell in January for the sixth consecutive month since the Trump Administration’s tariffs were enacted, while sales to China remained on the rise, according to data released by the South American nation’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services.
Last month, sales to the United States reached $2.4 billion, a 25.5% decrease compared to the same month in 2025 ($3.22 billion). At the same time, imports from the U.S. market fell by 10.9%, to $3.07 billion. The trade balance shows a deficit of $670 million, unfavorable for Brazil.
The 50% tariff originally imposed by the White House to Brasilia in mid-2025 was partially revised at the end of the year, but the ministry estimates that 22% of national exports to the northern country are still subject to extra rates between 40% and 50%.
Meanwhile, data from this entity points to a positive scenario in trade with China. In January, Brazil’s exports to the Beijing climbed to over $6.47 billion, a 17.4% increase compared to the first month of 2025 ($5.51 billion). Imports from the Chinese market fell by 4.9% to about $5.75 billion, resulting in a surplus of $720 million for the South American country.
U.S. and China are Brazil’s main trading partners. While total trade with the latter reached about $12.23 billion in January, a year-on-year increase of 5.7%, the figure for trade with the United States was $5.47 billion, an 18% drop compared to the same month in 2025.
The Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services also reported that Brazil’s trade balance recorded the second-largest surplus for any January since the start of the historical series in 1989, due to falling imports.
The agency specified that in January, exports exceeded imports by $4.342 billion, an 85.8% increase compared to the surplus of $2.337 billion in January 2025.
This result for January is only surpassed by that achieved in 2024, when the surplus was $6.196 billion.
Last January, the value of exports ($25.153 billion) was the third-best for any January since the start of the historical series in 1989, surpassed only by January 2024 and 2025. On the other hand, imports ($20.810 billion) recorded the second-best January in the series, placing only below the same month last year.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/brazil-finds-growth-in-chinese-market-as-us-trade-falters/?
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