Brazil foreign trade faces rising freight costs and tariffs

Brazilian foreign trade is facing significant pressure from rising maritime freight costs and international tariffs. During the Comex Tech Forum 2026 in São Paulo, logistics experts highlighted that shipping rates between China and Brazil have surged to approximately US$ 10,000, compared to normal levels of between US$ 2,000 and US$ 3,000.

Several factors are driving these increases, including geopolitical conflicts that force ships to divert from standard routes, increasing transit times and operational costs. Fluctuations in oil prices are also impacting the cost of bunker fuel used by vessels. Additionally, extreme weather events, such as a recent typhoon in China that closed the ports of Shanghai and Shenzhen, have caused cargo accumulation and further price hikes.

Other contributing factors include “blank sailing,” where shipping companies cancel or omit scheduled stops, reducing available space. Furthermore, trade measures and tariffs from the United States have been identified as a source of pressure on various Brazilian economic sectors, including the timber industry.