Brazil sets 2024 record for number of exporting companies

Brasil set a new record in 2024 for the number of exporting companies. The country closed last year with 28,847 exporting countries, a result that represents a 1.1% increase compared to 2023, when it closed with 28,524 companies (the record until then). The data are part of the Exports and Imports by Companies' Fiscal Size report, elaborated by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services’ (MDIC) Foreign Trade Secretariat.

Knowing the Brazilian exporting companies’ profile is key to give continuity to the programs that the Federal Government has been developing to promote the productive and export sectors”
Geraldo Alckmin,
Brazil’s Vice President and MDIC Minister

The report identifies the contingent of microcompanies, individual microentrepreneurs (MEI), small-scale companies (EPP), and medium or large companies that operate in foreign trade in Brazil. The goal of the study is to expand the statistics on foreign trade, exploring characteristics related to the fiscal size of the country’s exporting and importing companies. The document also identifies the numbers by size and by country of destination or origin of exports and imports, as well as the Brazilian region and state where the companies acting in foreign trade are based.

"Knowing the Brazilian exporting companies’ profile is key to give continuity to the programs that the Federal Government has been developing to promote the productive and export sectors. One example is the Acredita Exportação Program, approved by the Chamber of Deputies, which will boost small-scale companies by returning to them the equivalent to 3% of their export revenue,” highlighted Geraldo Alckmin, Vice President of the Republic and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services.

EXPORTED VALUE – The 2024 export results of the Trade Balance totaled USD 337 billion. From this total, microcompanies and MEIs account for USD 910.3 million in exports, while small-scale companies exported a total of USD 1.7 billion. Medium and large companies moved USD 310.3 billion, while other non-mercantile companies accounted for USD 24 billion in exports last year. Imports totaled USD 262.5 billion in 2024, with a positive balance of USD 74.6 billion for Brazil.

MARKETS – In terms of microcompanies and MEIs, the most profitable market was North America, with exports totaling approximately USD 280.6 million in 2024, of which USD 251 million went to the United States, followed by South America, with USD 226.7 million.

In the case of small-scale companies (EPP), South America was the region with the largest South America was the region with the highest trade volume (USD 422.1 million), followed by North America (USD 320.7 million), of which USD 275.9 million went to the United States. For medium and large companies, Asia and the Middle East were the main markets (USD 129.8 billion), with USD 85.3 billion destined for China, followed by Europe (USD 54 billion) and North America (USD 51.2 billion).

MEDIUM AND LARGE – The largest part of exporters (59.9%) are medium or large companies, in a total of 17,172. This segment presented the largest growth compared to 2023, with a 2% increase. EPPs showed an evolution of 1.5%, reaching a total of 5,480 at the end of 2024. Another 5,952 microcompanies and MEIs were identified, while 243 companies were classified as “others”.

MANUFACTURING – In 2024, Brazil stood out with a record USD 181.9 billion in exports from the manufacturing industry, the highest value since the historical series began in 1997. This reflects the strong efforts of the Brazilian government in public policies that drive national production. "The MDIC has been working on projects both to stimulate Brazilian industrial production and to elevate the country to a new level in foreign trade," said Geraldo Alckmin.

EXTRACTIVIST INDUSTRY – In terms of the stratification of companies by sector, the largest growth among microcompanies and small-scale companies in the last year was perceived in the extractivist industry, with 8.1% and 2%, respectively. Medium and large companies saw a greater expansion in agriculture and livestock, with a 5.9% growth in 2024. The manufacturing industry, however, remains the dominant sector for all company sizes, with 80% or more exporting industrial goods.

COMPANIES BY REGION – The Southeast region accounts for the largest portion of Brazil’s exporting in 2024 in the three categories, concentrating 3,341 microcompanies and MEIs, 3,183 EPPs, and 10,475 medium and large companies. The South closed last year with 1,714 microcompanies and MEIs, 1,697 small-scale companies, and 5,394 medium and large companies.

The Northeast recorded 377 microcompanies and MEIs, 211 EPPs, and 978 medium and large companies. The North recorded 295 microcompanies and MEIs, 256 small-scale companies, and 690 medium and large companies, and the Central-West recorded 239 microcompanies and MEIs, 156 EPPs, and 616 medium and large companies.