Rio Grande do Norte faces economic shifts amid gold boom and fiscal strain

Rio Grande do Norte is experiencing significant economic shifts across several sectors. Gold exports from Currais Novos have surged, accounting for 24.6% of the state's total exports. Between January and June 2026, the state exported US$ 157.5 million in gold, a massive increase compared to the US$ 5.5 million exported between 2020 and 2024. This growth is largely attributed to Aura Minerals' Borborema Project.

In terms of labor, the state saw the largest drop in unemployment among Brazil's 27 federative units during the second quarter of 2026, with a 1.9 percentage point decrease, though the rate of 5.6% remains above the national average.

However, the state faces serious fiscal challenges. The National Treasury has paid R$ 152.46 million in debts for Rio Grande do Norte as of April 2026. Between 2016 and April 2026, the Treasury disbursed R$ 796.50 million for the state's commitments but has recovered less than half of that amount.

Public spending also shows strain. The state applied only 7.04% of its tax and transfer revenue to health by June 2026, the lowest in the country and below the constitutional minimum of 12%. Additionally, only 61% of personnel spending goes to active civil servants, with the remaining 39% allocated to pensions, retirements, and outsourcing. The state's pension system faces a deficit, as there are more beneficiaries than active contributors.