Lucas Ferraz, Foreign Trade Secretary, noted the resurgence of Brazilian exports to locations such as the United States, which gained 44.9 percent in 2021, and the European Union, which increased 32.1 percent. There was also a 37% increase in sales to Mercosur and a 28% increase in sales to China, which is still the largest consumer of Brazilian exports. The 38.2 percent increase in import rates experienced by Brazil in 2021 is associated with increased demand for foreign fuel and electricity, a reflection of the water crisis undergone by the country, as well as purchases of vaccinations and industrial inputs. Furthermore, the depreciation of the real, which increased the cost of imported goods, contributed to the outcome. The Foreign Trade secretary of the Ministry of Economy pointed out that the 35.8% increase in trade flow (sum of imports and exports) reflects the growth in export rates (34%) and the substantial increase in imports (38.2%).
Sources: Canal Rural/Datamar News