🌎 Brazil’s agro diplomacy

Welcome back to Brazil Agro! This week, we look into Brazil’s efforts to reach new markets and expand its agricultural exports through diplomacy. If you have any questions about this newsletter or topics you’d like to see covered in future issues, you can reach me at [email protected]  

Brazil expands global reach for agricultural exports

Yerba mate, sesame, common beans, alfalfa hay and salted cattle hides (an input for the leather industry). This eclectic mix of agricultural products share a common thread: as of this year, Brazilian producers have gained new markets to sell them abroad.

In January, the Brazilian government announced 17 new export agreements, granting market access for specific products in countries including Vietnam, the United States, South Korea and Costa Rica. These add up to more than 300 agreements secured since 2023, involving more than 60 nations. Each deal represents a Brazilian product previously barred from entry into a particular country or economic bloc.

The push has been led by Brazil’s Agriculture and Foreign Relations Ministries and has gained momentum since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in 2023. During the government of former President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), Brazil secured 239 such agreements over four years.

Market access negotiations typically begin with a request from Brazilian producers, a trade opportunity identified by officials, or increased demand from foreign buyers, said Luís Rua, Brazil’s secretary for trade and international relations at the Agriculture Ministry. 

Talks often involve navigating trade and sanitary regulations, resolving technical issues and addressing environmental concerns — hurdles that can take years to clear, he told The Brazilian Report.

🚜 Brazil Agro