Entries by Gelcy Bueno
Income tax exemption up to R$5,000 fuels progressive taxation debate
Increasing taxation on high income does not ensure a change in the tax model, experts say 03/20/2025 The proposal announced by the Lula administration to reform income tax, affecting both those earning up to R$5,000 and high-income taxpayers, places Brazil at the heart of a debate that has gained momentum in recent years. The discussion revolves […]
Antitrust regulator tribunal restores Paper’s rights in Eldorado
Eldorado is controlled by the Batista family’s J&F, who claim the contract signed with Paper expired in 2018; courts have already recognized its validity 03/20/2025 The Tribunal of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) has narrowed the scope of the provisional remedy imposed by the antitrust watchdog’s General Superintendency, thus restoring certain shareholder rights […]
With Selic at 14.25%, Brazil’s Central Bank signals smaller hike ahead
The 100-basis-point hike announced Wednesday marks the fifth consecutive increase, pushing the benchmark interest rate to its highest level since 2016 03/20/2025 As expected, the Central Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (COPOM) raised the benchmark Selic interest rate from 13.25% to 14.25%. The key question now is what comes next. On this front, the committee indicated […]
Soy exports face delays as truck backlog grows in Rondônia
Farmers struggle with long wait times amid record harvest and logistical bottlenecks 03/18/2025 In a year of record grain production and a concentrated soybean harvest driven by weather conditions, producers are struggling to transport their crops through the port of Porto Velho, the capital city of northern Rondônia state. From there, the soybeans are shipped […]
More Brazilian listed companies seeking bankruptcy protection
High interest rates expected to sustain wave of corporate restructurings 03/18/2025 More than 20 publicly traded companies in Brazil are currently undergoing bankruptcy protection or out-of-court restructuring, a figure that is likely to rise in 2025 as more firms struggle to meet their debt obligations amid persistently high interest rates. Experts consulted by Valor anticipate […]
Energy prices soar as reservoir recovery slows amid scarce rainfall
Official forecasts indicate a low probability of heavy rains in the coming months, but grid operator ONS insists there is no supply risk 03/18/2025 Reservoir levels across Brazil have stagnated, and electricity prices in the free market—where consumers can choose their supplier and contract terms—have surged. However, Brazil’s national grid operator ONS maintains that there […]
Brazilian Central Bank’s guidance on future moves splits market
Economists’ predictions for the Selic rate at the end of the current monetary tightening range from 14.25% to 16.25%; the median forecast points to 15% in Q1 03/17/2025 With the Central Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (COPOM) widely expected to raise the benchmark Selic rate by 100 basis points, the market’s focus is now on any […]
China-U.S. trade dispute drives up soybean premiums at Brazilian ports
Export price premium reaches 75 cents per bushel at Santos port 03/17/2025 Ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China have increased Chinese demand for Brazilian soybeans, driving up export premiums at the country’s ports. Analysts believe this trend is likely to continue in the coming months. Currently, soybean premiums at the Port of […]
Labor productivity stagnates in Brazil, raising inflation concerns
Productivity per effective hour worked fell 0.5% in Q4 and edged up just 0.1% last year 03/17/2025 Although Brazil’s overall economy grew at a similar pace in 2023 and 2024, labor productivity followed a different trend in the two years. In 2024, productivity per effectively worked hour increased by just 0.1%, compared to a 2.3% […]