Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Monday (Dec. 15) that the work of the government and the quality of national production have led to the opening of over 500 international markets for Brazilian agricultural products from 2023 to 2025. “The success of what’s happening in Brazil comes as a result of the lessons we’ve learned over many years,” he stated.
He attended the inauguration of the Brasília headquarters of ApexBrasil – Brazil’s promotion agency for international trade. The event also celebrated the opening of these new markets, which have so far resulted in USD 3.4 billion in exports.
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This commercial expansion is spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, with the participation of ApexBrasil, the Ministry of Foreign Relations, and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Services, in association with the private sector.
“Here’s what’s happening in Brazil today – we produce to meet the domestic market, and we’ve been producing so well that we’re now able to meet the needs of the international market. This is the most perfect thing that could happen,” the president said.
The president praised the work of ministers and authorities involved and said he envisions even further expansion. Next year, for instance, he is expected to attend the Hannover Messe in Germany, one of the world’s leading industrial innovation and technology fairs.
The Brazilian leader will also travel to South Korea, where he plans to explore partnerships in the cosmetics sector, and to India, where, he says, there is potential in defense, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural technology.
Potential
Located in over 80 countries, the new markets are estimated to have export potential of more than USD 37.5 billion a year, as per official figures. Each country may have several markets for different types of products – chief among them are meat, cotton, fruit, and fish.
In the view of Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro, the “historic achievement” of commercial expansion is the result of good Brazilian diplomacy and the nation’s production capacity. He also recalled that, in 2025, Brazil received certification as a foot-and-mouth disease–free country.
“For 72 years, Brazil fought against this disease. And the world now recognizes the healthiness of Brazilian products and the country’s ability to produce more and more with guaranteed quality,” he pointed out.
Lula attended the inauguration of the Brasília headquarters of ApexBrasil – Brazil’s promotion agency for international trade - Fabio Rodrigues-Pozzebom/ Agência Brasil
Trade promotion
According to ApexBrasil, from 2023 to 2025, the joint effort between the agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Foreign Ministry resulted in more than 170 international initiatives across 42 countries, totaling USD 18 billion in projected business and serving over 3 thousand Brazilian companies. During this period, 19 official presidential missions and five vice-presidential missions were carried out.
The president of ApexBrasil, Jorge Viana, also spoke about the importance of the partnership with the private sector.
“Apex has 52 agreements with 52 sectors of the Brazilian economy [for participation in events abroad]. These are fifty-fifty agreements, with Apex providing half the money and the organizations providing the other half. Why? So that Brazil can make its presence felt around the world. Events amount to close to a thousand each year,” he said.
Officially created in 2003 – during President Lula’s first term, which ended in October 2025 – ApexBrasil registered 20,754 companies supported during the year, 66 percent of which were micro, small, and medium-sized, with a special focus on the North and Northeast regions, as part of a strategy to decentralize trade promotion activities.
Brazil’s Vice-President and Minister of Industry Geraldo Alckmin said that Brazil is expected to break its export record this year. “Even with slower global growth and lower prices, we are expected to break a record of USD 345 billion in exports and USD 629 billion in trade flow,” he said.
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