• Brazil’s economy saw improvement with real GDP increasing by 1.1% in 2018. The real value of private final consumption rose by 2.0% in 2018 on the back of consumer spending, which is supported by a record low-interest rate of 6.5% in 2018.
  • The contribution of exports to the economy has been traditionally low, with exports contributing 12.8% of GDP in 2017. In 2018, there were gains of 10.8% with the development of neighbouring economies. The primary export markets for Brazil in 2018 being China, the EU and the USA.
  • Another driver of the recovering economy in Brazil is the extent of investments from China with Beijing recently acquiring a majority share in Brazil’s second-busiest port by volume. Additionally, other Chinese companies have begun building and bidding for additional ports and railways. This increase in foreign investment is expected to help drive the economic recovery while also building trade ties between Brazil and international markets.