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Potential interest: Brazil wants to expand the supply of automotive components to Russia
Brazil intends to expand exports of industrial products to Russia. Automotive components may become one of the promising areas, the Embassy of the republic told Izvestia. Moscow and Brasilia are currently discussing ways to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries. For Russia, the emergence of new suppliers is especially important due to the ongoing problems with the import of components under sanctions. At the same time, Brazil is also expanding its food exports: in 2026, fish shipments to the Russian Federation began for the first time. American duties have become an additional incentive to find new sales markets.
Why does Russia need Brazilian automotive components
Brasilia is looking for ways to expand its industrial exports to Russia. Automotive components may become one of the possible product categories, the country's embassy told Izvestia. Moreover, Brazilian manufacturers already have experience working with CIS countries.
— Such a diversification [of trade] may also affect the industrial sector. For example, Brazil is already exporting automotive components to Uzbekistan, a country that is also the responsibility of our embassy. Such experience can serve as a guideline for determining the capabilities of Brazilian suppliers in the Russian market," the Brazilian Embassy in Russia explained to Izvestia.
The Brazilian auto industry does indeed have a large export market. In 2025, according to UN statistics, the country supplied almost $2.48 billion worth of automotive parts. Of these, Uzbekistan accounted for $74 million.
At the same time, prices for this category are only increasing in Russia. After the imposition of sanctions and the withdrawal of Western automakers, supplies became extremely difficult. Moscow is trying to solve the problem on its own: for example, in August 2026, the government approved an updated Strategy for the development of the automotive industry until 2035. The document provides for the expansion of its own production of automotive components, reducing dependence on foreign technologies and supporting companies that produce components. To do this, the authorities intend to stimulate the production of parts within the Russian Federation, the development of domestic developments and the creation of a single component base that can be used by several automakers at once.
At the same time, a number of parts are still not being produced in the Russian Federation. This applies to individual components of brake, steering and fuel systems, as well as injectors, valves and electronic components. Moreover, the Russian car industry also depends on the import of sophisticated electronics. The emergence of new suppliers would ease the market situation, but this is hampered by sanctions restrictions, difficulties with international settlements and logistics.
Trade deficit between Russia and Brazil
For Brazil, the expansion of industrial exports is associated with another problem — a significant trade deficit in relations with Russia. By the end of 2025, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $10.9 billion. Of these, Russian exports accounted for $9.4 billion, while Brazilian exports accounted for about $1.5 billion. Thus, Brazil's negative balance reached almost $8 billion.
Fertilizers and diesel form the basis of Russian supplies to the Brazilian market. Meat, coffee and other agricultural products are primarily moving in the opposite direction. According to the embassy, last year it accounted for 92% of Brazilian exports to Russia.
In Brasilia, it is believed that the gap can be reduced precisely by expanding the range of goods, including industrial production. The possibilities of changing the trade structure have already been discussed at meetings of bilateral commissions.
— At bilateral meetings within the framework of the Russian-Brazilian High-level Commission on Cooperation and the Intergovernmental Russian-Brazilian Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, we discussed this issue (trade deficit. — Ed.) with Russia and explored the possibility of including Brazilian products with higher added value in the trade range, which could be of interest to the Russian market, the embassy told Izvestia.
Brazilian manufactured goods are already represented in Russia, although their share remains small. In 2025, the supply of machinery and mechanical equipment amounted to about $22.4 million, pharmaceutical products — $16.1 million, optical and measuring devices, including medical equipment — $11 million.
The USA Factor
The US trade policy has become another incentive for the expansion of goods in the Russian market. In 2025, the Donald Trump administration increased duties on Brazilian exports. Washington linked some of them to the criminal prosecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a political ally of the American leader.
In July 2026, the United States imposed additional duties of 25% and 12.5% on certain categories of Brazilian products. The restrictions affected about 23% of the country's exports to the United States. At the same time, trade had been declining before that: in the first half of 2026, Brazilian shipments to the American market decreased by 13% compared to the same period last year, to $17.4 billion.
Due to pressure from Washington, back in 2025, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced his intention to look for new buyers, naming Russia among the possible destinations. Brasilia is interested in expanding not only industrial, but also agricultural exports. As a result, in 2026, fish from Brazil began to be supplied to the Russian market for the first time.
— According to data from Agrostat (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil, 2026), exports of Brazilian fish products to Russia in 2026 amount to about $2.3 thousand, or approximately 900 kg. At the same time, currently only three Brazilian enterprises have a permit from the Rosselkhoznadzor for supplies. Brazil expects new inspections by the Russian competent authorities as soon as possible and, accordingly, the inclusion of additional enterprises in the list of approved exporters, the diplomatic mission said.
The range of other Brazilian agricultural products is also expanding. In 2026, the supply of cocoa beans resumed, which had not been supplied to Russia since 1999. In July, Russia purchased 25 tons for $127.8 thousand. In addition, in December Brazil completed negotiations with the Russian side on the export of common beans and vigna (a type of pea).
However, the prospects for individual food categories on the Russian market vary. After 2014, Russia significantly increased its own meat production and reduced its dependence on imports. Therefore, a significant increase in supplies of, for example, Brazilian beef and pork should not be expected, said Alexandra Terzi, program coordinator of the RIAC.
In the food sector, veterinary restrictions and competition with Russian producers are added to the difficulties with logistics and international payments, Terzi notes.
To simplify the processing of supplies, Russia and Brazil are also discussing the introduction of electronic veterinary certification.
— Technical work is currently underway to introduce electronic certification of animal products. This issue is being considered within the framework of technical cooperation with the Russian competent authorities," the embassy said.
Thus, Brazil's trade dependence on the United States is steadily decreasing, including due to the expansion of the range of goods on the Russian market. However, this process may take time. Both countries are interested in economic cooperation, but first they have to solve many bureaucratic problems, as well as develop a strategy for how to continue working under sanctions.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
