by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor
The 50% US tariffs on Brazilian goods have significantly impacted trade between the two nations. Experts have noticed a decrease in several exported goods, including coffee, sugar, and orange juice.
According to the Journal of Commerce (JOC), US demand for these major Brazilian commodities has fallen by double digits, with coffee down 67%, sugar 77%, and orange juice 29% in the first half of September compared to the same period last year.
A US coffee importer told the JOC that roasters have quickly shifted away from Brazilian coffee, increasingly sourcing from Mexico.
JOC further reports that US imports in general from the East Coast of South America fell 11.7% in August from July and dropped more than 12% compared with August 2024.
Peter Sands, chief analyst at rate benchmarking platform Xeneta, believes a steep drop in Brazilian demand may lead to carriers choosing to skip Brazilian ports.
Meanwhile, despite the decline in exports to the US, Brazil's total exports rose marginally in August, buoyed by increased flows to China, Argentina, and Mexico.
Data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity shows that Brazil exported USD 9.93 billion to China in July 2025, with soybeans and crude petroleum being the top exports.
On the other hand, imports from China reached USD 5.97 billion in July 2025, with the highest value goods mainly focused on pesticides and mobile phones.
