Itajaí’s Imports Surge Over $1 B in First Half of 2026, China Remains Top Supplier

Itajaí, a coastal city in Santa Catarina, recorded US$9.1 billion in imports during the first half of 2026, a 12.6% increase from the same period a year earlier and more than US$1 billion higher. The city’s imports accounted for 6.4% of Brazil’s total foreign purchases, keeping Itajaí ahead of larger industrial hubs such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. China was the leading source, supplying US$3.79 billion worth of goods (41.6% of the city’s total), followed by Germany, the United States, Chile and Argentina, which together contributed over 62% of the volume.

In July 2026, Santa Catarina’s export sector faced a new 25% tariff on most shipments to the United States, affecting roughly 68‑72% of the state’s U.S.‑bound trade. The tariff hit machinery, furniture, wood products and electrical equipment, especially in the Serrana, Oeste and Planalto Norte regions. Concurrently, a Russian ban on fuel exports and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries drove up diesel prices, raising production costs for poultry farms in the state.