Brazil faces soaring consumer and corporate debt crisis

Brazil is confronting a deepening debt problem affecting both households and businesses. Consumer watchdog Procon Santo André warned that super‑indebtedness has become a social and economic challenge, noting that more than 83 million Brazilians are in arrears and over 80 % of families carry some debt. The agency urges consumers to seek early guidance, scrutinize interest rates and total repayment amounts, and avoid taking new loans merely to refinance existing obligations.

On the corporate side, Serasa Experian data shows that by April 2026 a record 9 million CNPJs were listed as negative, representing over R$ 220 billion in debts and affecting more than 31 % of active firms. Despite high interest rates and restricted credit, experts say indebted companies and agricultural producers can still access structured credit solutions outside traditional banks, provided they act early and employ specialized legal and financial advice to restructure liabilities and preserve operations.