Trade balance surplus reaches US$4.28 billion

Brazil's trade balance recorded a surplus of US$4.28 billion up to the third week of September 2026, an increase of 130.8% compared to the same period in 2025. According to data released by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC), exports grew by 21.5%, to US$21.89 billion, while imports advanced by 9%, to US$17.61 billion.

In the period from January to the third week of September, exports totaled US$272.75 billion, an increase of 11.11% compared to the same period in 2025. Imports reached US$213.15 billion, an increase of 5.81%.

With this result, the trade balance accumulated a surplus of US$59.60 billion, a growth of 35.21% of the total. According to data released by the MDIC (Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade), the trade flow also advanced, with an increase of 8.71% of the total, reaching US$485.89 billion.

Through the third week of September, the three major sectors of the economy registered growth in exports. Agriculture advanced 12.5%, reaching US$4.44 billion.

The extractive industry showed growth of 44.71%, with exports of US$5.77 billion. Meanwhile, the manufacturing industry increased its external sales by 15.31%, reaching US$11.44 billion.

In the agricultural sector, according to data released by the MDIC (Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade), the growth in exports was mainly driven by rye. oat and other unmilled cereals, whose sales advanced 60,899.1%. There was also growth in exports of coffee untoasted, 12.5%, and soy, of 19.9%.

In the extractive industry, the highlights were other raw minerals, with an increase of 79.6%, other ores and concentrates of base metals, with growth of 117.6%, and crude petroleum oils or crude bituminous minerals, with an advance of 90.1%.

In the manufacturing industry, exports of soybean meal and other animal feed, meat meal and other animal products grew by 76.11 TP4T. Sales of fuel oils from petroleum or bituminous minerals, excluding crude oils, advanced by 48.61 TP4T, while non-monetary gold, excluding gold ores and their concentrates, grew by 70.91 TP4T.

Despite the overall increase in exports, some products registered a decline in foreign sales. In the agricultural sector, the reductions occurred in... corn unground, with a decrease of 12.8%; spices, with a decrease of 34.9%; and oilseeds of sunflowersesame, canola, cotton and others, with a reduction of 68.2%.

In the extractive industry, exports of iron ore and its concentrates fell by 12%, while those of copper ores and their concentrates declined by 14.1%. Sales of nickel ores and their concentrates fell by 100%.

In the manufacturing industry, exports of fresh, chilled or frozen beef decreased by 21.61% of the daily rate (TP4Q). Sugars and molasses fell by 17% of the daily rate (TP4Q), while sales of passenger cars dropped by 27.8% of the daily rate (TP4Q).

Imports also increased in all three sectors. According to data released by the MDIC (Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade), agricultural exports grew by 18.11% to US$0.33 billion.

In the extractive industry, imports increased by 34.81% of the total, reaching US$0.90 billion. Meanwhile, the manufacturing industry registered an increase of 7.61% of the total, with external purchases of US$16.28 billion.

Among agricultural products, imports of whole live, dead, or chilled fish grew by 43.5%. Purchases of fresh or dried fruits and non-oilseed nuts increased by 28.9%, while those of soybeans increased by 55.3%.

In the extractive industry, growth was mainly influenced by purchases of other ores and concentrates of base metals, which increased by 75.8%; coal, even in powder form but not agglomerated, with an increase of 35.2%; and crude petroleum oils or crude bituminous minerals, which advanced by 60.4%.

In the manufacturing industry, imports of petroleum fuel oils or bituminous minerals, excluding crude oils, increased by 69.8%. Purchases of automatic data processing machines and their units, for recording data, magnetic or optical readers, advanced by 289.6%.

Imports of passenger cars also increased, rising by 100.2%.

On the other hand, some products saw a reduction in foreign purchases. In the agricultural sector, imports of wheat Purchases of unmilled rye fell by 12.71 TP4T, while purchases of unmilled corn, excluding sweet corn, decreased by 11.61 TP4T. Purchases of rye, oats, and other unmilled grains decreased by 61.61 TP4T.

In the extractive industry, imports of crude fertilizers, excluding manures, fell by 50.41 TP4T. Purchases of aluminum ores and their concentrates decreased by 94.21 TP4T, while those of natural gas, liquefied or not, decreased by 18.31 TP4T.

In the manufacturing industry, imports of chemical fertilizers, excluding crude fertilizers, decreased by 23.1%. Purchases of non-electric motors and machinery and their parts, excluding piston engines and generators, fell by 79.4%. Imports of platforms, vessels and other floating structures decreased by 98%.

With exports growing more strongly than imports, Brazilian foreign trade extended its positive balance through the third week of September. According to data released by the MDIC (Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade), the result also increased the trade flow and reinforced the accumulated growth for the year.