Santiago – Brazilian exports are, predominantly, basic goods. According to data from the Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services (MDIC), from January to August, soy accounted for 33%, in value, of the country’s exports, followed by crude oil, with 19.56%, and iron ore, with 15.96%. Finished products’ number is way lower, with, for instance, passenger vehicles coming in, in the same period, with 6.71% of total exports.
There’s an effort being made to change this scenario. The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), through the Qualification for Export Program (PEIEX), is offering guidance for business owners for the exports of products with higher added value.
In addition to this, the agency is mediating direct contact with potential clients this week at LAC Flavors – a food products and beverages trade expo in Chile, organized by the Inter-American Development Bank (BID). A trade mission organized by Apex-Brasil took 62 Brazilian business owners to take part in B2B meetings and exhibit their products in the event.
According to Márcia Nejaim, Business director at Apex, despite basic goods still making up most of the country’s exports, the country has been able to make improvements regarding finished products. “If you look at Argentina’s exports, there a lot of added value. The same with the United States. It’s true that Brazil is one of the most competitive countries regarding agribusiness. But it’s also important to invest in companies offering finished products, technology.”
Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
