Major economic force
Brazil is the largest economy in South America. Brazil has a strong business base and modern banking system, with the presence of the world’s largest banks.
Expanding consumer market
Brazilians are early adopters, with over 50% of the population showing interest in technology developments. Brazilian consumers are shopping online more and more, with every category showing consistent growth in the last few years.
Government policy
President Lula's priorities include socially inclusive growth and environmental protection. Sectors which may offer opportunities for UK businesses looking to export include clean energy, life sciences, financial services and food and drink.
Top five UK goods exported to Brazil , in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024
| Goods | Value (£ million ) |
|---|---|
| Medicinal & pharmaceutical products | |
| Mechanical power generators (intermediate) | |
| Miscellaneous metal manufactures | |
| General industrial machinery (intermediate) | |
| Iron & steel |
Source:
ONS Trade in goods: country-by-commodity exports
Last updated: February 2025
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for Brazil.
Total import value (into the UK from Brazil) and export value (from the UK into Brazil) over time
| Year | Imports (£ billion ) | Exports (£ billion ) | Total trade (£ billion ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 6.6 |
| 2017 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 6.5 |
| 2018 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 6.8 |
| 2019 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 7.3 |
| 2020 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 6.2 |
| 2021 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 6.5 |
| 2022 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 9.4 |
| 2023 | 4.8 | 6.4 | 11.2 |
Source:
ONS UK total trade: all countries, seasonally adjusted
Last updated: January 2025
Total trade is the sum of all exports and imports over the same time period.
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for Brazil.
Brazil: at a glance
Economic growth
2.9%
Actual figure (IMF, 2023)
The UK is 0.1% (IMF, 2023, projected figure)
GDP per capita
$10,268
Actual figure (IMF, 2023)
The UK is $49,099 (IMF, 2023, projected figure)
Currency
Brazilian real
Business language
Brazilian Portuguese
You are likely to need a translator
Time zone
GMT -4
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Opportunities for exporters
In 2024, UK total exports to Brazil rose by 10.8%, reaching £6.8 billion. Goods exports represented 41.4% of the total UK exports to Brazil in 2024.
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Brazil has the largest healthcare market in Latin America, that represents around £210 billion pounds with an expenditure of 9.5% of the GDP on healthcare. Government healthcare spending is set to rise due to increasing prevalence of NCDs, ageing population and a need for modernisation of healthcare services.
Growing medical device market
The Brazilian medical devices market is the largest in Latin America and it is heavily dependent on foreign companies and industries, with over 85% of MedTech products being imported. In 2023, the sector’s foreign sales grew by 13.6%. The main areas for imports are imaging diagnostics (41%), orthopedics (22%), cardiovascular (18%), surgery (14%), and patient monitoring (2%).
Pharmaceutical
The Brazilian medical devices market is the largest in Latin America and it is heavily dependent on foreign companies and industries, with over 85% of MedTech products being imported. In 2023, the sector’s foreign sales grew by 13.6%. The main areas for imports are imaging diagnostics (41%), orthopaedics (22%), cardiovascular (18%), surgery (14%), and patient monitoring (2%).
Opportunities in other areas of healthcare
There are opportunities for UK companies in digital health in terms of interoperability, EPR, AI, remote monitoring, among others; innovative advanced therapies; and pharmaceutical products.
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Financial services contribute 6.5% to Brazil’s GDP, and the country has seen regulatory changes to increase competition and innovation, especially with the Open Banking implementation.
Investment in new technology
Brazilian banks are investing in new technologies to support fintech services, including artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT).
Demand for UK expertise
There is demand for UK technology and fintech expertise in areas including: cyber security, mobile and online banking, AI and cognitive technology, data analytics, IoT, blockchain and cloud services.
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The education industry is a priority for the Brazilian government, and some focus areas include raising the level of English fluency and developing e-learning and distance learning.
English language
Brazil has around 40,000 private schools, many of which are adapting to offer bilingual education. Given that the current rate of English fluency in Brazil is low, the market is predicted to grow.
E-learning
According to the Brazilian Ministry of Education, in 2013 over 1 million students were enrolled in higher education through a distance learning course, representing around 15% of all students in higher education. The distance learning segment of the education sector continues to grow, driven by demand due to lower monthly tuition fees.
Demand for UK expertise
There is demand for UK expertise in the following areas: e-learning, education technology, technical and vocational training.
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Brazil has the largest aerospace industry in the Southern Hemisphere and a substantial commercial-aviation market. There are opportunities for British companies in commercial and private aviation, especially original equipment manufacturers, aircraft repair and maintenance firms, ground-service providers and businesses in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market, which is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years.
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
The Brazilian aerospace ecosystem is led by its largest aerospace hub in São José dos Campos, near São Paulo, where Embraer, the Aeronautics Institute of Technology, the city’s Technology Park and a vast supply chain are located. Embraer, the largest Brazilian OEM, has businesses comprising commercial and executive aviation, and defence and security markets and services. It is a leading manufacturer of commercial jets of up to 150 seats (regional jets) and the third largest commercial-aircraft manufacturer in the world.
Airlines
In 2022 there were over a million domestic flights and more than 150,000 international flights registered in the country, carrying 10 million passengers. LATAM Airlines, Azul and Gol are the local airlines with the largest share in the market. LATAM and British Airways offer direct flights between Brazil and the UK , among other airline options with connections in Europe. Starting in 2024, Virgin Atlantic will also be an alternative on this route.
Helicopters and urban air mobility
Brazil has a fleet of around 2,000 helicopters. São Paulo holds the largest fleet in the world, being the only city with an air traffic control exclusive for helicopters. Eve, Embraer’s subsidiary, will start producing its first eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) models in Brazil. Eve’s project is 100% electric and the company aims to make the vehicle autonomous.
Check for trade barriers
Trade barriers, such as tariffs or taxes, can raise costs, cause delays, or even stop you from exporting. Check for any issues that may impact your business when exporting.
Check duties and customs
Find information on how to export goods from the UK. View the duties, rules, restrictions, and the documents you need for your products.
Doing business in Brazil
Preparing to export
Import regulations
Brazil has complex regulation for imports. A lot of government agencies are involved. You should get advice from a legal professional or import agency.
The British Chamber of Commerce in Brazil has members offering legal advice and services to exporters.
Alternatively contact DBT Brazil for advice.
Intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) rights are territorial. Rights granted in the UK do not provide protection elsewhere. You should consider getting IP protection abroad if you want to trade overseas or sell to overseas customers via the internet.
The Intellectual Property Office’s International IP Service provides practical information to help you protect, manage and enforce your IP in Brazil.
British Businesses looking for IP support can also contact the IP Attaché for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Trade barriers
Check for any reported barriers to trading with Brazil.
Report any trade barriers that are affecting your business so we can help fix them.
Operating in Brazil
Entry requirements
If you are travelling to Brazil on a British passport, you won't need a visa.
Passports must be valid for at least 6 months and a return ticket and proof of funds may be requested on arrival. Visitors aren't allowed to work while in Brazil.
Check the gov.uk travel advice for more information.
Next steps
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