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NEWSLETTER – MURRAY ADVOGADOS JULY 2025

NEWSLETTER

MURRAY ADVOGADOS

JULY 2025

07/01/2025

BRAZIL WANTS TO INCLUDE CARS AND SUGAR IN MERCOSUR

The Lula administration aims to give strategic sectors preferential treatment during its presidency of the bloc

Brazil plans to use its upcoming six-month presidency of Mercosur to push for the inclusion of the automotive and sugar industries in the bloc’s common trade regime, according to the country’s Foreign Ministry, known as Itamaraty. The initiative is expected to be one of President Lula’s top priorities for the regional group in 2025.

The effort is tied to the economic significance of these sectors within intra-bloc trade. Roughly half of all trade between Brazil and Argentina, for example, is concentrated in the auto industry. Yet despite its central role, the sector has remained outside Mercosur’s common trade framework since the bloc was created 34 years ago.

“Our goal is to include the automotive sector in Mercosur, and we will continue working toward a regional agreement in this area,” said Ambassador Gisela Maria Figueiredo Padovan, secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean at Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is leading the negotiations.

Ms. Padovan said the Brazilian government has already drafted a proposal outlining a new common industrial policy for the regional auto sector. “We’ve submitted a draft agreement aimed at establishing a shared industrial policy. Just between Brazil and Argentina, autos account for 50% of bilateral trade—that’s highly significant. We’re pursuing a deal that will be mutually beneficial,” she said.

Negotiations on the sugar industry are still at an earlier stage, with no formal text under discussion. Even so, talks are moving forward, according to Ambassador Francisco Pessanha Cannabrava, director of the Mercosur Department at Brazil’s foreign ministry.

“In the case of sugar, we’re aware of the sensitivities among our Mercosur partners, but our goal is not to harm local agriculture. Our focus is on aligning production chains. Countries like Uruguay and Paraguay have domestic industries that rely on sugar, so we need to find ways to integrate it into the bloc,” Mr. Cannabrava said.

As part of this process, Brazil is considering working with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to help develop technical benchmarks for sugar sector integration. “We’re working on terms of reference to figure out how sugar can be included in Mercosur in a way that’s a win-win for everyone. These terms could be developed by respected institutions like the IDB,” he added.

Brazil’s Foreign Ministry also expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with Argentina on a new version of the Common External Tariff Exception List. The current discussion stems from a proposal made during Argentina’s previous Mercosur presidency, which secured exemptions for 50 new products.

According to Brazilian officials, a final agreement could be reached during the next Mercosur summit, scheduled for July 2–3 in Buenos Aires. The exception list allows member countries to apply different external tariffs to specific goods, giving them more flexibility within the bloc’s broader trade structure.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/02/2025

DEVELOPMENT LENDERS TEST NEW FUNDING STRATEGY FOR AI, DATA CENTERS

BNDES and Finep sign agreement aiming to turn Rio into high-capacity data hub; exploring R$1bn AI investment fund

Brazil’s leading development institutions are ramping up efforts to attract artificial intelligence (AI) investments and boost the country’s data center infrastructure. On Tuesday (1), the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and the Studies and Projects Financing Agency (Finep) signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Rio de Janeiro as a strategic data center hub. The agreement also includes the federal government, the city of Rio, and power utility Eletrobras.

The memorandum—focused on developing, financing, and installing high-capacity data centers in the city—is the first of its kind and could serve as a model for other states and municipalities.

Speaking at the Governance and Public Strategies in Artificial Intelligence forum, held in parallel with the BRICS summit at BNDES headquarters in Rio, the development lender’s Planning and Project Structuring Director, Nelson Barbosa, said the bank is evaluating the creation of a dedicated investment fund for data centers and AI.

Mr. Barbosa said BNDES plans to commit between R$500 million and R$1 billion to the fund as part of its renewed strategy for equity investments via BNDESPar, the bank’s equity investment arm. Last week, BNDES President Aloizio Mercadante announced that the bank will allocate R$10 billion to stock investments—half through direct stakes and half via private equity-style investment funds (FIPs).

“Of the R$5 billion allocated to funds, we’re evaluating a fund focused on data centers and AI, with a potential BNDES commitment of between R$500 million and R$1 billion,” Mr. Barbosa said.

Including potential private co-investment, the total size of the fund could reach between R$2.5 billion and R$5 billion. It would support various segments of the IT and AI ecosystem—from different data center models to algorithm development, applications, AI solutions, and hardware such as gaming technologies and creative industry tools.

Mr. Barbosa said BNDES has already deployed R$1.7 billion in the sector since 2023 through direct financing and investment fund participation. That includes R$1 billion in nine transactions involving hardware, data centers, and IT products; R$63 million in equity investments in two tech firms via BNDESPar; and R$700 million across seven investment funds focused on AI-enabled business models. The bank expects these funds to mobilize another R$2.3 billion in private capital, Mr. Barbosa said.

Finep President Luiz Antonio Elias said Brazil has a significant opportunity to position itself competitively in the global technology market by creating a “positive financing environment.” He highlighted the strategic nature of the new protocol.

“The memorandum offers a differentiated financing model involving Finep, BNDES, and Eletrobras, recognizing Rio’s unique opportunity. The city becomes more attractive for investment thanks to its existing connectivity infrastructure,” Mr. Elias told Valor, referring to the international submarine cables established during the 2016 Olympics.

The initiative aligns with Brazil’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, launched by the federal government last year. “[This agreement] represents a strategic initiative with significant economic, scientific, and technological impact,” Mr. Elias added.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/04/2025

MERCOSUR SUMMIT SHOWCASES BRAZIL-ARGENTINA DIVISIONS

Lula promotes integration; Milei warns against economic rigidity

On the day Brazil assumed the rotating presidency of Mercosur, President Lula said the South American bloc serves as “a refuge where we feel safe” and shields its members from “foreign trade wars.” Speaking in Buenos Aires during the handover ceremony from Argentina, President Lula’s remarks stood in stark contrast to those of Argentine President Javier Milei, who warned against the bloc becoming an “iron curtain” for its members.

It was Mr. Lula’s first visit to Argentina since Mr. Milei took office. The two leaders did not hold a bilateral meeting, although President Lula visited former Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, signaling his political alignment.

“When the world becomes unstable and threatening, it’s natural to seek refuge where we feel secure. For Brazil, Mercosur is that place,” President Lula said during the 66th Mercosur Summit. “Over more than three decades, we’ve built a house with solid foundations, capable of withstanding storms. We’ve established a network of agreements that now includes associate states. All of South America has become a free trade area, grounded in clear and balanced rules.”

According to President Lula, the bloc’s Common External Tariff serves as protection against external trade conflicts. “Being part of Mercosur protects us,” he said, adding that member states must work together to preserve their autonomy in an increasingly polarized global context.

For its six-month presidency, Brazil has outlined five main priorities: strengthening trade within the bloc and with external partners, addressing climate change and promoting energy transition, advancing technological development, combating organized crime, and promoting citizens’ rights. President Lula said Brazil’s leadership will be a chance to reflect on “the place we aim to occupy on the new global chessboard.”

Standing beside Mr. Milei, President Lula renewed his support for deeper economic integration and reducing the bloc’s dependence on the U.S. dollar. He advocated for a payment system using local currencies to facilitate digital transactions, lower costs, and reduce exchange rate risks.

Strengthening trade within the bloc and with external partners will be a top priority, he said, citing the need to integrate the automotive and sugar sectors into the customs union. “Delaying this task means sacrificing the bloc’s strategic potential in the production of electric vehicles and biofuels,” President Lula said.

He also announced plans to advance trade negotiations with Canada and the United Arab Emirates. Within the region, he emphasized the need to engage with Panama and the Dominican Republic, as well as update existing agreements with Colombia and Ecuador. He also called for Mercosur to turn its attention to Asia, which he described as “the dynamic center of the global economy.”

In contrast, Mr. Milei emphasized that Argentina’s top interest in the bloc is opening new markets for its exports. In his closing speech as outgoing chair of Mercosur, the Argentine president called for greater economic freedom within the bloc and more flexible internal rules. He insisted that Mercosur cannot remain “an iron curtain” for its members.

“We urgently need more freedom. We’ve left behind decades of stagnation. Mercosur’s partners must decide whether they want to support the path we’ve embarked on. Either we move forward together or alone,” Mr. Milei said. In his view, the bloc should no longer be seen as “a shield that protects us from the world, but a spear that allows us to enter global markets.”

While neither leader directly criticized the other, the distance between them was evident. After the summit, President Lula visited Ms. Kirchner and posted a photo of them holding hands, wishing her strength in her “fight for justice.”

President Lula said his bond with Ms. Kirchner extends beyond formal relations. “It’s a friendship rooted in mutual affection, shared political ideals, and a common commitment to social justice and fighting inequality,” he wrote. Ms. Kirchner is currently under house arrest, serving a six-year sentence for corruption.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/04/2025

SUPREME COURT SUSPENDS IOF DECREES, CALLS CONCILIATION HEARING

Justice Moraes questions legitimacy of tax hike while urging better dialogue between branches of government

Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Friday (4) suspended both the executive and legislative decrees related to Brazil’s Financial Transactions Tax (IOF) and summoned representatives from the Presidency, Senate, Chamber of Deputies, and Office of the Prosecutor General (PGR) for a conciliation hearing on July 15.

The decision stems from cases filed by the Liberal Party (PL) and Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL), as well as the Attorney General’s Office (AGU), regarding the legality of the IOF hike. While Mr. Moraes acknowledged the executive branch’s authority to adjust tax rates, he expressed concern over the “nature” of the recent increase.

“There is a serious and well-founded doubt about whether the presidential decree was used to adjust the IOF for purely fiscal purposes. In a preliminary assessment, this is enough to consider a potential abuse of power. If the president’s autonomous decrees are driven by a deviation of purpose, they may violate the principle of proportionality,” Mr. Moraes wrote.

He granted a preliminary injunction suspending Executive Decrees 12.466/2025, 12.467/2025, and 12.499/2025, as well as Legislative Decree 176/2025. The decision will now be sent to the full court for review, though no date has been set.

Allies with ministries also filed suit

In addition to the actions brought by the PL, PSOL, and AGU, a fourth case was filed Thursday night (3) by parties that hold ministerial positions in the Lula administration. These parties are asking the STF to declare constitutional the legislative decree that overturned the IOF increase.

Among the parties behind this request are Brazil Union, Progressives, and Republicans, which together control five ministries, including Tourism, Communications, Social Development, Sports, and Ports and Airports. Also joining the suite are Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Solidarity, Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Podemos, and Avante. They argue that “Congress acted properly in blocking measures that raised taxes without following the legislative process.”

Court battle deepens political crisis

The AGU’s move to file a case with the STF on Tuesday (1) to restore the IOF hike further strained relations between the Lula government and Congress. Lawmakers, particularly congressional leaders, were already upset over aggressive messaging on social media by the Workers’ Party (PT), which included AI-generated videos portraying Congress as “the enemy of the people.”

These attacks, part of a broader “rich vs. poor” narrative pushed by the government, specifically targeted Chamber Speaker Hugo Motta (Republicans of Paraíba). The polarization strategy had already drawn criticism from lawmakers and is expected to further deteriorate relations with the Legislature. In response, the Brazil Union-Progressives federation released its own video rebutting the campaign over the weekend.

Yesterday, before his party filed its own case against the executive, Congressman Arthur Lira (Progressive Party, PP, Alagoas), speaking at an event in Lisbon, called for de-escalation among all branches of government. “Everyone needs to take a step back—the Legislative, Judiciary, and Executive. They need to sit at the table and resolve this without letting tensions get this high,” said Mr. Lira, who previously served as Speaker of the Chamber.

According to him, both the Executive and Legislative were within their rights in the IOF dispute. “This will only be resolved through dialogue—and that’s what we’ve been working around the clock to make happen,” he said.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/10/2025

BRAZIL’S INFLATION EXCEEDS TARGET CEILING FOR FIRST TIME UNDER NEW RULES

IPCA rose 0.24% in June and 5.35% over 12 months, breaching continuous target system of 4.5%

Brazil’s official inflation, as measured by the Extended Consumer Price Index (IPCA), rose 0.24% in June, slightly down from 0.26% in May, according to data released by the national statistics agency IBGE. While modest, it was the highest rate for the month of June since 2022, when inflation reached 0.67%.

The June figure came in above the median forecast of 0.19% from 33 financial institutions and consulting firms surveyed by Valor Data, Valor’s financial data provider. Forecasts ranged from 0.11% to 0.26%.

In the 12 months through June, inflation reached 5.35%, exceeding the upper limit of the Central Bank’s inflation target range for the first time since a new framework came into effect earlier this year. The current system sets a continuous target of 3%, with a tolerance band of 1.5% to 4.5%. If the 12-month IPCA remains outside this range for six consecutive months, the target is considered to have been breached.

Since January 2025, 12-month inflation has remained above the 4.5% ceiling. The June result marks the sixth consecutive month above the range, triggering a formal breach under the new rules set by the National Monetary Council (CMN).

Under the new framework, the Central Bank must now publish a semiannual open letter to the finance minister explaining the reasons for missing the target, the steps being taken to bring inflation back within the range, and the expected timeframe. The institution must also include a written explanation in its Monetary Policy Report, which replaces the previous Inflation Report published every quarter.

The inflation target system was revised to enhance predictability in monetary policy. Previously, the Central Bank aimed to meet an annual target based on end-of-year inflation. The shift to a continuous target requires the institution to manage inflation expectations more consistently over time.

For the 12-month figure, the median market expectation was 5.3%, according to Valor Data, with estimates ranging from 5.22% to 5.37%.

IBGE calculates the IPCA based on the consumption basket of households earning between one and 40 minimum wages, covering 10 metropolitan areas along with the cities of Goiânia, Campo Grande, Rio Branco, São Luís, Aracaju, and Brasília.

Price behavior by category

Of the nine spending categories used to calculate the index, five showed slower price increases in June compared to May. Food and beverages saw deflation of 0.18% in June after rising 0.17% the previous month. Slower inflation was also observed in housing (from 1.19% to 0.99%), health and personal care (from 0.54% to 0.07%), personal expenses (from 0.35% to 0.23%), and education (from 0.05% to zero).

On the other hand, price increases accelerated in household goods (from -0.27% to 0.08%), clothing (from 0.41% to 0.75%), transportation (from -0.37% to 0.27%), and communication (from 0.07% to 0.11%).

Diffusion and core inflation

Inflation became less widespread in June. The diffusion index, which tracks the share of goods and services with price increases, fell to 53.6% from 59.7% in May, according to Valor Data. Excluding food, which is among the most volatile categories, the index remained stable at 59.8%.

The average of the five core inflation measures tracked by the Central Bank slowed slightly to 0.29% in June from 0.30% in May, according to MCM Consultores. Over the 12-month period, the average of the core indexes rose to 5.23% from 5.17%.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/11/2025

TRUMP’S TARIFF THREAT SEEN AS BIGGER RISK FOR INFLATION THAN GROWTH

Economists warn of secondary effects from currency, trade tensions

The 50% tariff announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Brazilian exports is expected to have a limited direct impact on Brazil’s economy, but economists warn that the damage could escalate depending on how negotiations unfold.

Most analysts agree that the effects will be concentrated in specific sectors and companies. As a relatively closed economy, exports make up a modest share of Brazil’s GDP, and the United States, though Brazil’s second-largest buyer, accounts for just 12% of exports.

However, potential secondary effects warrant attention. Currency volatility, especially driven by heightened risk perception, could push up the exchange rate and reignite inflation. Foreign investment could also be affected if tensions with the U.S. escalate

Preliminary estimates from Bradesco BBI suggest the tariffs could cut $15 billion from exports this year, or 0.6% of GDP. BTG Pactual sees losses of $7 billion in 2025 and $13 billion in 2026, equal to 0.3% and 0.6% of GDP, respectively.

In a report, economists Iana Ferrão and Luiza Paparounis said the effective average tariff on Brazilian goods exported to the U.S. would jump from 1.3% in 2024 to 37.2% in 2025.

“Because the price elasticity of Brazil’s imports relative to the exchange rate is below 1 in the short term, an initial depreciation of the real does little to offset the external shock. This means both the trade surplus and current account are likely to deteriorate by roughly the same amount as the drop in exports,” they wrote.

XP Investimentos forecasts a 0.3 percentage point reduction in GDP growth in 2025 and 0.5 pp in 2026 if the tariffs take effect, with a drop in exports of $6.5 billion and $16.5 billion, respectively. The firm also expects tighter financial conditions. Oxford Economics, in contrast, projects a smaller loss—below 0.05 pp in both GDP and exports in 2026—and sees foreign direct investment (FDI) declining by 0.2 pp.

If Brazil enacts reciprocal measures, the impact would be greater. GDP could shrink by 0.1 pp, and FDI could fall as much as 0.5 pp.

“Trump’s letter may open the door to negotiations and reduce the final tariff. But we’re skeptical: Trump’s threat is unlikely to influence domestic Brazilian politics,” said Felipe Camargo, global chief economist at Oxford Economics.

Inflation impact

The inflation outlook remains more uncertain. Brazil’s price dynamics had been improving, helped by a stronger real, which had also influenced market expectations. But the exchange rate per U.S. dollar rose 1.79% in two days, halting that trend.

If the exchange rate stabilizes, some economists believe the tariff hike might temporarily ease inflation by boosting domestic supply of products usually shipped to the U.S., such as meat, coffee, and orange juice.

“There’s talk that beef prices could rise in the second half of the year, but these developments could cancel that out,” said Warren’s inflation strategist, Andréa Angelo. In her view, the exchange rate would only start affecting inflation if it reverses the gains of the first half and exceeds R$6 per dollar.

Santander shares a similar view. “We might see some downward pressure in the first two months. After that, it depends on the dollar’s path. If it stays around current levels, our inflation forecast doesn’t change much,” Adriano Valladão said. A worsening inflation scenario driven by the exchange rate would require the dollar to rise above R$5.80. On Thursday, the commercial rate closed at R$5.54.

XP does not expect a meaningful inflation impact if Brazil refrains from retaliation. But escalation could hit Brazil’s import basket, which includes fuel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and auto and aerospace components.

“For fuels, around 3% of gasoline and 5% of diesel consumed in Brazil come from the U.S. Substitution wouldn’t be easy, but it’s possible. The most critical area, however, is air travel: between 10% and 15% of aviation kerosene used in Brazil is imported from the U.S.,” the firm said. A 50% Brazilian tariff on these goods could add 0.05 pp to inflation through higher airfare.

No retreat expected from Trump

For UBS BB chief economist, Alexandre de Ázara, the 50% tariff on Brazilian products is unlikely to be rolled back. He argued that Mr. Trump’s grievances clash directly with the Brazilian government and judiciary: the legal situation of former president Jair Bolsonaro, Mr. Lula’s pro-Iran rhetoric and support for a BRICS currency alternative to the dollar, and what the American president sees as persecution of U.S. tech companies by Brazil’s Supreme Court.

“The Brazilian government needs to stop escalating first. What we’ve seen so far is that if a country retaliates, Trump always retaliates back,” Mr. Ázara said. He does not believe Mr. Trump will compromise on these issues.

The greater risk, he warned, lies in further escalation. “From an economic standpoint, de-escalation would be wiser. But that doesn’t seem to be the government’s path. If Brazil imposes a 50% tariff across the board, we might stop producing medicine, for instance, because a large share of the pharmaceutical industry’s inputs come from the U.S. And Trump could strike back again.”

Mr. Ázara does not rule out more drastic U.S. measures, such as restrictions on American investment in Brazil. “That could be very damaging and could severely impact the exchange rate,” he said.

Souce: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/11/2025

AGRICULTURAL BONDS TO REMAIN TOP RURAL CREDIT SOURCE DESPITE NEW TAX

Bonds known as LCA expected to exceed R$700bn by 2026 under Crop Plan

Agribusiness Credit Bnds (LCAs) are set to remain the leading funding instrument for Brazil’s rural credit programs in the 2025/26 season, even with a proposed income tax on their returns. According to government projections, the outstanding volume of LCAs is expected to reach R$728 billion by May 2026, up from the current R$651 billion. Of this total, about 60% is earmarked for financing the agricultural sector.

The 2025/26 Crop Plan outlines R$594.4 billion in total rural credit, with LCAs accounting for R$328 billion, or 55% of the funding. In the 2024/25 cycle, they represented 43% of the total.

Currently, income earned from LCAs is exempt from taxation. However, the Ministry of Finance has proposed a 5% tax on earnings, included in Provisional Presidential Decree 1,303/2025, which still requires Congressional approval. If passed, the new rule would take effect in 2026. Despite the tax, Gilson Bittencourt, deputy secretary for agricultural policy and agro-environmental business at the Ministry of Finance, believes LCAs will remain attractive to investors.

“The Finance Ministry’s proposal to impose a 5% tax maintains LCAs’ advantage over other fixed-income instruments while also helping to fund interest rate subsidies in rural credit,” said Mr. Bittencourt.

He noted that high interest rates, particularly the current Selic level near 15% per year, made it unfeasible to keep loan interest rates unchanged in the new Crop Plan. “We wanted to avoid raising rates, but the numbers had to add up,” Mr. Bittencourt said during a media briefing after the plan’s release earlier this month. “In agriculture, the lower the rate, the better. But worse than a slightly higher rate is having no funds at all. That was the government’s main concern.”

Mr. Bittencourt also acknowledged that a drop in the Selic rate could reduce demand for LCAs, which are currently among the most profitable investment options. Nonetheless, investor familiarity with LCAs may help sustain demand even in a lower-rate environment.

Looking ahead, Mr. Bittencourt said the “ideal scenario” for agricultural policy would be a Selic rate of 8.5%—a projection that was common among economists and the government earlier in 2024. In such a scenario, LCAs could be issued at 90% of the benchmark rate plus a spread of up to 3%, resulting in single-digit loan interest rates for market-based credit lines. This would also increase the incentive for banks to use their own funds in rural lending, further easing the fiscal burden of subsidies.

However, Ivan Wedekin, a consultant and former secretary of agricultural policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, warned that taxing LCAs could hurt their competitiveness relative to other instruments, such as bank-issued CDBs, which are already taxed. He also voiced concerns about market confidence.

“Taxing one type of instrument sets a precedent. There’s now a risk that the government could raise the tax from 5% to 10% or even revoke exemptions altogether. That creates uncertainty across the market,” Mr. Wedekin told Valor.

The Agricultural Parliamentary Front (FPA) has also criticized the proposed taxation, echoing concerns that it could undermine trust in rural credit mechanisms.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/14/2025

CHINA EXPANDS IN CONSUMER GOODS, NOW SUPPLIES 26% OF BRAZIL’S IMPORTS

Cars, electronics and home appliances drive Chinese dominance as U.S. loses share

Brazil’s reliance on American goods has dropped to near the lowest level in a decade, as China strengthens its dominance across a wide range of imports, including consumer products like cars, motorcycles, freezers, and stoves.

From January to June, Brazil imported $21.7 billion from the United States, up 11.5% from the same period in 2024. But this only accounted for 16% of total imports, the second-lowest share in the last ten years, just above the 15.5% in the first half of last year. In 2022, the U.S. share was 19.3%.

Amid China’s search for new markets under the threat of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the country exported $35.7 billion to Brazil in the first six months of this year: 26.3% of Brazil’s total imports, a record high and up 22.2%.

China became Brazil’s top car exporter last year, even after Brazil imposed tariffs on electric vehicles. Chinese dominance has also expanded into small appliances and electronics, growing in strategic importance for Beijing.

Despite the introduction of import tariffs last year—starting at 10% in early 2024 and rising to 18% now—pure electric vehicles from China remain Brazil’s most imported cars.

In the first half of this year, Brazil imported $2.05 billion worth of vehicles from China, down from $2.58 billion in the same months of 2024 but up 713% from 2023. Argentina, once a key supplier, trailed far behind at $844 million.

Between 2022 and 2025, Brazil rose from China’s 17th to its sixth-largest vehicle export market, now representing 5.6% of the total.

This trend is mirrored in household appliances. During the second-hottest summer in Brazil’s history—second only to 2024—air conditioner imports from China jumped 67% to $498.5 million in the first half of 2025, after already surging 64% in the same period of 2024. Brazil moved from the 15th to the seventh-largest buyer of Chinese air conditioners from 2022 to 2025.

Imports of Chinese-made vacuum cleaners hit $51 million, up 26% from a year earlier.

Even when values declined, China remained the leading supplier. Imports of electric stoves, grills, and baking pans totaled $98.2 million—down from $113.7 million in 2024—but Germany, the second-largest supplier, shipped just $2.3 million.

Brazil imported $65.6 million in fully assembled televisions from China in the first half. Hong Kong ranked second at $7.1 million. Mobile phone imports from China, including parts and components, totaled $650.6 million, with Vietnam in second place at $291.5 million.

Chinese government trade data confirms Brazil’s growing importance. Between 2022 and 2025, Brazil climbed from 17th to sixth among China’s TV buyers, and from 19th to sixth in irons. It also rose from 16th to 12th in electric stoves and grills.

Brazil’s appetite

Lia Valls, professor at Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) and researcher at the Brazilian Institute of Economics of Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV Ibre), said Brazilian purchases of Chinese goods are rising much faster than total imports. Volume growth, she explained, is especially striking.

In the 12 months through May, Brazilian imports from China rose 25.7% in value, data from the Foreign Trade Secretariat (SECEX) show. The FGV Ibre’s Foreign Trade Indicator (Icomex) puts volume growth at 37.2%.

By comparison, total Brazilian imports rose 12.2% in value and 16.7% in volume. From China alone, volumes jumped 35% in the first five months of 2025, versus a 12.4% increase in total imported volume.

Yet average prices of Chinese goods are falling. Icomex shows a drop of 8.1% in average import prices from China between January and May. Total import prices fell just 2.6%.

U.S. imports, on the other hand, rose 13% in volume over the same period, while prices were nearly flat, edging up just 0.2%. The U.S. remains Brazil’s second-largest supplier.

In February, Brazil imported a large offshore oil platform from China, classified as a non-recurring item. But Icomex data show the surge in Chinese import volumes is a long-term trend.

Between 2015 and 2024, Brazilian imports of Chinese goods by volume rose 146.2%. U.S. volumes increased just 1.1%, and imports from Argentina rose 21.9%. Meanwhile, average prices of Chinese imports fell 14.4%, while U.S. prices rose 50.9% and Argentine prices 7.3%.

Since 2006, China’s import volume to Brazil has multiplied by seven, while its average export price rose just 14%.

Trade surge

José Augusto de Castro, president of the Brazilian Foreign Trade Association (AEB), said imports have proven more resilient than expected this year, partly due to China’s role.

The import surge had a negative impact on Brazil’s GDP in the first quarter, despite a record grain harvest, said Livio Ribeiro, partner at BRCG and researcher at FGV Ibre. “It was very unusual. Even with the bumper crop, net trade dragged down GDP, which was unexpected.”

Data from Brazil’s national statistics agency IBGE show that exports of goods and services rose 2.9% in the first quarter versus the previous three months (seasonally adjusted), but imports climbed 5.9%.

SECEX figures show that China’s share of Brazilian imports rose from 23.3% in the first half of 2024 to 26.3% in the same period this year.

Regardless of the direction of Mr. Trump’s tariff policies, Mr. Castro said, China will continue expanding its export markets. “The world is adapting to this new China, a country that produces everything, competes in everything, and offers competitive prices in everything.”

Mr. Ribeiro said the future of Chinese imports in Brazil will depend less on the U.S. president’s policies and more on the strength of domestic lobbying efforts. “Brazil’s lobbies are stronger than average. Chinese oversupply could flood other countries like Chile or Colombia more than Brazil, where local lobbies are less organized. So Brazil is unlikely to face a full-blown flood of Chinese goods.”

The global tariff debate, he said, has thrown “some sand in the gears of global trade.” China is also struggling to boost domestic consumption and is seeking new markets for its industrial surplus.

Chinese carmakers gain ground

Tulio Cariello, research director at the Brazil-China Business Council, said China’s lead in car exports to Brazil is unsurprising. He noted that import tariffs for electric and hybrid vehicles will continue to rise through next year.

In 2025, electric cars without combustion engines were taxed at 18% through June. The rate rose to 25% this July and is scheduled to reach 35% in July 2026.

New Chinese brands such as GAC, Zeekr, Omoda & Jaecoo, and Leapmotor have followed BYD and GWM into the Brazilian market. “They realized there’s a market for EVs in Brazil. BYD created a positive image for Chinese cars, which are now almost synonymous with electric vehicles,” Mr. Cariello said.

Mr. Ribeiro said higher tariffs haven’t significantly curbed demand for Chinese EVs, which tend to be more expensive and less sensitive to price increases. “Tariffs reduced margins, but that wasn’t fully passed on to consumers. And even if it were, they’d still be cheaper than German or Swedish models.”

Chinese dominance extends to appliances and production chains

In appliances and white goods, Mr. Cariello noted that China’s dominance reflects years of industrial investment. When China opened to foreign investment, many U.S., European, and Japanese firms set up production there. “The Chinese learned, began making their own products, and started competing with global brands. In some cases, like air conditioners, they’re already ahead.”

He added that fierce competition among Chinese manufacturers helps keep prices low.

Chinese companies, said Mr. Castro of AEB, are quick to develop new products and win over markets. Data from SECEX illustrate this: Italy remains Brazil’s top dishwasher supplier, with shipments rising from $42 million in the first half of 2022 to $83 million in the same period this year. But China is catching up fast, doubling its exports to Brazil from $16.6 million to $51.6 million in the same period.

Mr. Cariello pointed out that while China leads in many categories, Southeast Asian countries are gaining ground as Chinese companies shift production for cost savings. In cell phones and parts, for instance, Vietnam and Malaysia follow China. For air conditioners, Thailand and Singapore are next.

“Each case is different, but there’s no doubt China will remain the dominant supplier in many sectors,” he said. “Chinese companies not only ship final products, they also produce key components. Smartphones and computers are good examples. China is involved in every step of the value chain, from critical minerals to components and design. One way or another, China is always present.”

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/15/2025

PREVI EXITS BRF, REJECTING MARFRIG OFFER

Pension of Banco do Brasil workers sheds stake after 30 years as investors, citing better price from market

One of BRF’s longest-standing shareholders, the pension fund for Banco do Brasil employees, has opted not to wait for the outcome of the merger with Marfrig. Previ closed its historic position last Friday (July 11), selling off its remaining shares, according to Pipeline and confirmed by the fund.

Previ had been a shareholder since the 1990s, originally through an investment in Perdigão, and remained in the company after its 2009 merger with Sadia. The fund was among the investors dissatisfied with the share swap terms proposed by Marfrig for the merger with BRF, arguing that it secured a better price for its beneficiaries by selling on the open market.

“The shares were sold at a price higher than what would have been offered to minority shareholders through the appraisal rights process if the BRF-Marfrig merger were finalized,” Previ said in a statement, emphasizing its more than 30-year history with the company.

“Previ believes the proposed exchange ratio in the merger does not adequately reflect BRF’s value, potentially leading to losses for minority shareholders and, by extension, for our members. By exiting before the merger’s completion, Previ protects participants’ assets and reaffirms its commitment to technical, well-founded decisions aligned with the best interests of the pension plan,” the statement added.

Previ’s exit rattled investors, with BRF shares dropping 4.55% on B3.

The fund’s departure may weaken the push by minority shareholders seeking better merger terms. Previ, along with asset manager Latache and a member of the Fontana family, had appealed to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (CVM), successfully delaying the shareholder meeting to vote on the merger twice—the latest postponement, granted last Friday, extended the process by another 21 days.

They are demanding further disclosure of the valuation study underpinning the share price and have also raised concerns about the involvement of Marfrig’s controlling shareholder, Marcos Molina, in the merger vote.

Meanwhile, Marfrig and Mr. Molina continue to buy up BRF shares. The company disclosed that its combined stake, together with Molina’s MAMS fund, has reached 58.87%. When the merger was announced in May, Marfrig held 50.5% of BRF. This increased stake means the merger could be approved even without minority shareholder support.

BTG Pactual has also been purchasing BRF shares in recent days. The bank disclosed it now holds a 7.79% stake in BRF and has derivatives involving call and put options on the stock. BTG did not specify whether the position is proprietary or on behalf of a client.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/17/2025

BRAZIL FACES HURDLES REPLACING RUSSIAN DIESEL SUPPLY

Russia became top supplier in 2023, offering discounted fuel

Brazil could struggle to find alternative diesel suppliers if the United States imposes new sanctions on Russia, experts told Valor. Russia has been the country’s leading diesel source since 2023, offering the fuel at discounted prices amid international trade restrictions.

On Tuesday (15), NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that countries such as Brazil, China, and India could be affected by secondary sanctions threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump. The proposed measure would impose 100% tariffs on nations buying from Russia, unless Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to a peace deal in Ukraine within 50 days.

From January to June, Russia was Brazil’s top diesel supplier, accounting for $2.5 billion in exports, according to data from Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade (MDIC). The United States ranked second, with $1 billion. Currently, domestic production meets 70% of Brazil’s diesel demand, with the remaining 30% filled through imports.

According to Felipe Perez, an analyst at S&P, Brazil would face difficulties sourcing diesel elsewhere amid already tight global inventories. “If tariffs are extended to fuels, U.S. diesel will become less competitive for Brazil. India could be an option, but it is also a major importer of Russian diesel and could be subject to the same sanctions,” he said. Mr. Perez said Nigeria and Middle Eastern countries remain potential suppliers, though high freight costs and limited volumes could make them less viable.

Russia emerged as a key player in Brazil’s diesel imports in 2023, after Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine shut the country out of its traditional markets. To attract new buyers, Russia offered discounted fuel, prompting increased purchases by Brazil, India, and China.

That same year, Moscow temporarily halted diesel and gasoline exports to contain domestic price spikes, as crude oil prices neared $100 per barrel. The short-lived export ban heightened global concerns over the reliability of Russian supply, which is rarely governed by long-term contracts.

According to MDIC, Brazil set a record in 2023 by importing $4.5 billion in diesel from Russia. That trend has continued into 2024, with Russian diesel purchases totaling $5.4 billion—well ahead of the $1.4 billion in imports from the U.S. For comparison, in 2022, Russian diesel accounted for just $95 million in Brazilian imports, ranking Russia eighth among suppliers. That year, the U.S. led the list, with $8 billion in sales.

Sergio Araujo, president of the Brazilian Association of Fuel Importers (ABICOM), said Brazil will likely face a challenge in finding an alternative supplier that can meet its needs. The situation would worsen, he said, if sanctions also affect China and India, creating global demand that outpaces supply. “That scenario would shake up the market. The U.S. could be an alternative, but I’m not sure U.S. refineries have the capacity to scale up production enough,” said Mr. Araujo. “If global supply falls short, prices will surge, adding pressure to inflation.”

ABICOM members importing Russian diesel are waiting to see if Mr. Trump’s threats materialize. According to an industry source, most Russian diesel buyers in Brazil are independent operators.

Asked for comment, Acelen, the owner of the Mataripe refinery in Bahia, said it does not purchase Russian diesel. Raízen declined to comment, while Vibra did not reply to Valor’s request for comment.

Petrobras also said it does not buy crude oil or refined products from Russia. In a statement, the state-run company said diesel imports are driven by market conditions. “Petrobras’s global operations, through its international trading subsidiaries, allow it to import from a range of suppliers, primarily from the U.S., India, and the Persian Gulf region.”

Thiago Vetter, an analyst at StoneX, sees NATO putting pressure on Brazil and other nations, but said the likelihood of sanctions being enforced remains low. “I consider the chance of secondary tariffs on Russian buyers remote, given the importance of these markets to the U.S. economy,” he said. In his view, even if Russian diesel were cut off, there is little risk of a fuel shortage in Brazil. Companies could replace Russian diesel, but it would come at a higher cost, he added.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/18/2025

BRAZIL SETS NEW MONTHLY RECORD FOR BEEF EXPORTS

The volume of exports in June reached 341,550 tonnes, up 41%

Brazilian beef exports soared to a record high in June, reaching 341,550 tonnes, a 41% increase year over year, the Brazilian Association of Meatpackers (Abrafrigo) reported Thursday, citing federal data. This figure surpassed the previous monthly record of 319,290 tonnes set in October 2024.

June export revenues jumped 55% to $1.505 billion. In the first half of the year, total beef and byproduct exports generated $7.446 billion in revenue, up 28%, with volumes rising 17.3% to 1.69 million tonnes.

China remains Brazil’s top customer, importing 631,900 tonnes in the semester—an 11.3% increase in volume and 27.4% growth in revenue, which totaled $3.204 billion. The U.S., the second-largest buyer, significantly expanded its imports by 85.4% in volume and 99.8% in revenue, purchasing 411,700 tonnes worth $1.287 billion between January and June.

China accounted for 43% of Brazil’s beef export revenues and 37.4% of volumes in the period. The U.S. share was 24.4% of volume and 17.3% of revenue.

However, the outlook has darkened following the U.S. decision to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian beef starting August 1. According to Abrafrigo, the measure could cost the Brazilian cattle industry around $1.3 billion.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/21/2025

PUBLIC DEBT WILL KEEP RISING WITHOUT TOUGH FISCAL REFORM, STUDY WARNS

MCM 4Intelligence projects debt-to-GDP ratio above 100% in multiple scenarios within 10 years

Brazil’s public debt is on track to exceed 100% of GDP within the next decade, even if a mild fiscal reform package is approved, according to a study by consultancy MCM 4Intelligence. The analysis, which ran thousands of simulations based on Brazil’s economic and fiscal performance over the past 20 years, highlights growing concerns among economists ahead of this year’s elections.

In a scenario where no policy changes are made, there is a 53% chance that the debt-to-GDP ratio will surpass 100% within ten years, with a 61% probability of crossing this threshold at any point during that period. The baseline assumptions include a real interest rate of 5%, average GDP growth of 2.4%, and a primary surplus of 0.5% of GDP. Brazil’s gross debt currently stands at 76.1% of GDP.

Under a scenario involving diluted reforms, the probability of debt exceeding 100% within a decade still reaches 25%, rising to 32% when considering the possibility of it happening at any point in the next ten years. This projection assumes that, starting in 2027, the government achieves an average primary surplus of 1.5% of GDP through a set of measures: delinking healthcare and education spending from GDP growth and adjusting them only for inflation; indexing pensions and other social benefits to inflation plus half of real GDP growth; cutting wage bonuses to half the minimum wage; reducing legal tax exemptions by 10%—which the Finance Ministry estimates at over R$800 billion—and trimming parliamentary budget earmarks by 10%, from R$50.4 billion in 2025.

The study’s conclusions diverge sharply from the outlook of Dario Durigan, the Executive Secretary at the Finance Ministry. Speaking at a Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) event earlier this month, Mr. Durigan said it was possible to resolve Brazil’s debt challenge within five years “through spending controls and fiscal rebuilding.” He acknowledged that returning to primary surpluses at the current Selic interest rate level is “neither viable nor feasible,” but suggested there was room for interest rate cuts “soon.”

The analysis by economists Alexandre Teixeira, Renan Martins, and political consultant Ricardo Ribeiro uses stochastic modeling, which employs historical averages and standard deviations of key variables to generate thousands of possible debt trajectories.

“The advantage of this method is that it produces not just a single forecast but a wide range of possible outcomes, allowing us to gauge the likelihood of specific events,” said Mr. Teixeira.

The diluted reform scenario was designed as a softer version of a much stricter package that has been circulating among market economists in recent months. The harsher version, however, is widely seen as politically unfeasible, given strong opposition from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and powerful congressional lobbies. It includes eliminating real increases for pensions and social benefits, tightening eligibility for welfare programs such as the BPC, ending the wage bonus, making deeper cuts to tax expenditures, and slashing parliamentary amendments to the average level seen between 2020 and 2024.

According to MCM’s estimates, such a strict package could generate an average primary surplus of approximately 3% of GDP over ten years. “With this level of fiscal adjustment, it’s not hard to show the debt could be stabilized,” Mr. Teixeira noted.

Other institutions have reached similar conclusions. A recent World Bank study estimated the effort needed to stabilize Brazil’s debt trajectory at 3% of GDP. The Independent Fiscal Institution (IFI) calculated the required primary surplus at 2.4%.

A tougher fiscal adjustment could lead to a 3% primary surplus within a decade, MCM says

The study also tested a third scenario, using the same parameters as the diluted reform case but with two adjustments: it assumes the reforms enhance fiscal credibility, lowering the real interest rate to 4.5%—the same level recorded between 2016 and 2019 after the approval of Brazil’s spending cap—and reducing interest rate volatility by halving its standard deviation.

In this case, the probability of debt exceeding 100% of GDP virtually disappears. “The key takeaway is that investors need to view the reform as sufficient. For any reform to be effective, it must clearly signal debt stabilization,” Mr. Teixeira said. “A reform that is too lenient may not achieve this goal.”

Other institutions, such as IFI, have also published stochastic scenarios, though typically based on their baseline cases. In its latest Fiscal Monitoring Report, IFI estimated a 72.7% chance of gross debt surpassing 90% of GDP by 2029.

In the annexes to the 2026 Budget Guidelines Bill (PLDO), the government indicated that the likelihood of debt exceeding 100% of GDP is low and only materializes in an “adverse scenario” involving a 100 basis point Selic rate shock starting in September 2025.

The Finance Ministry, through its press office, said Mr. Durigan’s comments reflect the baseline scenario prepared by the National Treasury’s technical team, which assumes compliance with the fiscal targets set in the new framework. Under this scenario, debt peaks at 84% of GDP in 2029 before declining gradually. This aligns with the Treasury’s latest Fiscal Projections Report, which forecasts a debt peak of 84.3% of GDP in 2028.

The ministry added that its projections “rely on parameters consistent with current macroeconomic conditions and reaffirm the economic team’s commitment to gradual, responsible, and sustainable fiscal consolidation.”

A recent report by Warren Investimentos did not assign probabilities but outlined three potential scenarios. Not even the baseline scenario—which includes indexing the minimum wage to inflation from 2027 and freezing public sector wages until 2030—was able to stabilize debt by 2035. Only in the “adjustment scenario” does gross debt decline after peaking at 92% of GDP in 2029. In this case, the primary surplus would reach 1.7% of GDP by 2030 and 2.0% by 2035.

However, the measures in this scenario appear politically challenging: ending the minimum wage valuation rule and freezing public sector wages; abolishing the wage bonus; changing the minimum spending rules for healthcare and education; halving parliamentary earmarks; and cutting the federal contribution to the Fundeb education fund from 23% to 19%.

Source: Valr International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/21/2025

VIVARA TO ELECT NEW CHAIR AS FOUNDER STEPS DOWN FOR HEALTH REASONS

Marina Kaufman Bueno Neto to take over as board chair at jewelry retailer

Vivara, Brazil’s largest jewelry chain, confirmed on Friday (18) key leadership changes previously reported by Valor. Citing health reasons, founder and majority shareholder Nelson Kaufman will step down as chair of the board. His daughter, Marina Kaufman Bueno Neto, currently vice chair and with the company since 2007, will take over the role. Mr. Kaufman will remain a signatory to the shareholders’ agreement.

Paulo Kruglensky, Mr. Kaufman’s nephew, was named vice chair. A former CEO who led one of the company’s most significant growth periods, Mr. Kruglensky spent 17 years at Vivara before stepping down in 2024. His departure followed Mr. Kaufman’s controversial decision to retake the helm of the company.

Mr. Kaufman submitted his resignation on Friday, and the changes will be formally approved at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. Valor has learned that Icaro Borrello will remain CEO and that the company is discussing initiatives to improve metrics such as cash flow and margins.

Mr. Kaufman suffered a stroke last year and is recovering gradually, which prompted the decision to strengthen the board. The company declined to comment.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/22/2025

U.S. COMPANIES TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST TRUMP OVER ‘BRAZIL TARIFF’

Two orange juice importers argue the tariff on Brazil will slash profits and drive up retail prices

Two U.S. importers have taken the first step in challenging Donald Trump’s proposed sanctions against Brazil, laying out arguments that could pave the way for similar actions by other companies and intensify pressure on Washington.

On July 18, orange juice importers Johanna Foods and Johanna Beverage Company filed a request for declaratory and injunctive relief with the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, aiming to block Trump’s threat to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods.

Based in Flemington, New Jersey, the plaintiffs are premium food manufacturers, producers, and distributors of fruit juices, beverages, and yogurts.

In the lawsuit, the companies argue that the proposed tariffs—set to take effect on August 1—exceed the president’s authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and constitute an unconstitutional delegation of power.

Robert Facchina, executive director of both companies, stated in a declaration attached to the 150-page lawsuit that the tariff would harm the group financially, increase retail prices by roughly 20% to 25% for consumers, and could trigger layoffs in the U.S.

“Brazil’s tariff will result in a significant, and perhaps prohibitive, price increase on a staple of the American breakfast,” the importers warn.

The filing also challenges the rationale behind Mr. Trump’s proposed tariff, citing his reference to “the way Brazil treated former President Bolsonaro,” “Brazil’s insidious attacks on free elections and the fundamental rights of Americans to freedom of expression,” and “the long-standing and very unfair trade relationship.”

The suit notes that Mr. Trump’s letter does not cite any legal or statutory basis for imposing a 50% tariff against Brazil. It asserts that the letter “does not constitute proper executive action, is not an Executive Order, does not refer to or incorporate any Executive Orders, or modify or amend any existing Executive Order.”

Moreover, the document points out that Mr. Trump “has not identified any unusual or extraordinary threat originating outside the U.S. that is a threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the U.S.,” nor has he “declared a national emergency as the basis for imposing the Brazil Tariff.”

The two importers claim that Mr. Trump’s imposition of a 50%—or higher—tariff on Brazilian orange juice will cause substantial and immediate financial harm to both their companies and American consumers.

Brazil is the world’s leading producer of orange juice and the second-largest supplier to the U.S., accounting for more than half of all orange juice sold in the American market.

“The 50% tariff imposed on Brazil by the Trump administration will significantly affect the petitioners’ businesses, resulting in an estimated additional cost of at least $68 million over a twelve-month period, which exceeds any single year of profits in the petitioners’ 30-year history,” the importers state in their complaint.

They argue that the imposition of the tariffs undermines their ability to plan, fulfill production requirements, and manage cash flow, “as the additional costs impose an immediate and uncontrollable financial burden that our current profit margins cannot absorb.”

Without “relief from these tariffs,” the importers warn they will face potential layoffs of unionized employees, reduced production capacity, and an existential threat to the long-term viability of their operations. Together, the companies support nearly 700 jobs in the U.S. and make significant contributions to the economies of New Jersey and Washington.

They further argue that the increased costs associated with the so-called Brazil Tariff will compel them to raise prices for customers, leading to an estimated 20% to 25% hike in retail prices for consumers.

The filing also highlights the steep decline in domestic orange juice production—particularly in Florida—which has dropped by more than 95% over the past 25 years due to citrus greening disease, hurricanes, and urban sprawl, rendering the U.S. supply insufficient for its production needs.

According to the plaintiffs, Florida’s orange harvest for 2025 is projected to fall by approximately 33% compared to last year, marking the lowest output in 95 years. Brazil and Mexico now account for roughly 95% of U.S. orange juice imports.

In conclusion, the companies assert that the imposition of the Brazil Tariff—particularly the 50% rate—is unlawful and urge the court to bar the Trump administration from enforcing the measure.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/22/2025

GOL AND AZUL ARGUE CODESHARE DEAL BEFORE CADE

Antitrust agency flagged deal after airlines announced merger talks

Gol and Azul have denied before Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) that their codeshare agreement constitutes an “associative contract” or violates competition law. The two carriers submitted their responses to CADE late Friday (18), addressing inquiries from Commissioner Carlos Jacques, the case rapporteur reviewing the partnership.

In May 2024, Gol and Azul announced their codeshare agreement. Earlier this year, they also opened talks on a potential merger. Back in April, CADE’s technical division, the Superintendence-General (SG), had argued that the codeshare deal should have been reported to the antitrust authority and amounted in practice to an “associative contract” between rivals. Although the SG archived the case, the CADE Tribunal later reopened it. If CADE’s commissioners find that the agreement was improperly executed without prior notification, the airlines could face fines.

One of the commissioner’s main questions was whether Gol or Azul had discontinued any overlapping routes after the codeshare agreement took effect.

Gol responded that changes in flight networks—including frequencies, connections, and schedules—are routine in the airline industry and were not influenced by the codeshare deal. The company stated that, based on routes with overlapping services at the time of the codeshare signing and flight schedules published by Brazil’s civil aviation regulator (ANAC), two regular overlapping routes were discontinued. However, Gol did not specify which routes.

Gol further argued that labeling the codeshare as an associative contract is “based on incorrect premises and is fundamentally flawed.”

“It is impossible to equate the codeshare agreement with precedents involving actual infrastructure sharing,” the airline said. Gol maintained that the SG’s conclusion was based on the mistaken assumption that codeshare agreements involve shared infrastructure. Gol insisted the agreement involves only code-sharing, without the creation of a joint enterprise or shared risks and returns, thereby ruling out classification as an associative contract.

Azul echoed this argument in its response, emphasizing that flights sold through the codeshare account for only a small portion of its total revenue.

Azul also stated that since the codeshare’s implementation, there has been no integration or sharing of operational systems, airport infrastructure (including staff or check-in counters), or any essential assets for conducting business.

Furthermore, Azul argued that the agreement does not include joint pricing arrangements. “The parties do not exchange any pricing or operational information that could lead to any coordination between their activities,” the company said.

Eric Hadmann Jasper, an attorney and professor of economic law, said it is “natural” for Gol and Azul to frame their codeshare agreement within precedents that do not treat such arrangements as associative contracts.

He added that CADE could, in principle, fine the airlines. “However, there have been cases where CADE found that a transaction should have been notified but refrained from applying a fine, citing unclear precedents and regulations,” Mr. Jasper noted.

In a recent interview with Valor, CADE President Gustavo Augusto pointed to the codeshare agreement as one of the Tribunal’s top cases for the second half of the year.

“I expect the Tribunal will address these issues in the coming semester, and even if we find no infraction, we may still require that the codeshare be formally notified and reviewed. Depending on the Tribunal’s decision, it could also influence the direction of the proposed merger,” he said.

Gol declined to comment, and Azul did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/15/2025

PREVI EXITS BRF, REJECTING MARFRIG OFFER

Pension of Banco do Brasil workers sheds stake after 30 years as investors, citing better price from market

Previ’s exit rattled investors, with BRF shares dropping 4.55% on B3.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/25/2025

U.S. EYES BRAZIL’S RARE EARTHS AS LULA GOVERNMENT PUSHES FOR TALKS

Finance Minister Fernando Haddad signals credit line to support Brazilian companies hit by potential U.S. tariffs

With the United States showing interest in Brazil’s so-called rare earths, the Lula administration on Thursday (24) called on Washington to return to the negotiating table to find an alternative to the 50% import tariff announced by President Donald Trump.

Finance Minister Fernando Haddad publicly reinforced the government’s strategy, advising business leaders to challenge the measure in U.S. courts in an effort to mitigate the impact of the unilateral decision. He also revealed that the contingency plan to be submitted to President Lula includes a range of proposals, including a credit line.

Mr. Haddad said more than 10,000 Brazilian companies could be harmed by the tariff hike, which is set to take effect on August 1. The government has tried to negotiate a solution—relying on backchannel communications through political and business intermediaries to appeal to Mr. Trump—but has received little response from the White House.

In light of the situation, the government is preparing a support package for affected Brazilian firms. Minister Haddad said a “menu of measures” is ready and will be presented to Mr. Lula next week. It will be up to the Brazilian president to decide which ones to implement and to what extent.

“This is a political decision that necessarily rests with him, given the sensitivity and importance of the issue,” Mr. Haddad said in an interview with Itatiaia radio. He declined to give further details, but confirmed the plan includes a credit line and measures “permitted under international law.”

On the investigations by U.S. authorities into Brazil’s Pix instant payment system, Mr. Haddad suggested the U.S. may be motivated by profit.

“Pix is now being accepted in Europe, in the U.S., in Argentina, at no cost to those countries. Who is that hurting? It’s hurting those who profit from financial transactions,” he said.

President Lula said Thursday that Mr. Trump has shown no interest in negotiating a way out of the trade conflict. In his view, if Mr. Trump truly wanted a resolution, he would have already made a phone call, which hasn’t happened.

President Lula said he is good at “playing cards” and warned that if Mr. Trump is bluffing, he’s ready to call it and double the challenge. “Brazil is used to negotiating,” he added during an event in Minas Gerais.

President Lula also demanded respect from the U.S. government and challenged Mr. Trump to explain “what his problem is” with Brazil, while warning that retaliation is on the table. “If the United States wants to negotiate, Lula is ready to negotiate. But I only take disrespect from Dona Lindu,” he added, referring to his late mother. He implied that American discomfort may stem from Brazil’s regulation of social media and the success of Pix.

Race for strategic minerals

In his speech, Mr. Lula also mentioned U.S. interest in Brazil’s strategic mineral resources.

“We have 12% of the world’s fresh water to protect. We have 215 million people to protect. We have all our oil to protect. All our gold to protect. All the rich minerals you want to protect. And no one touches them. This country belongs to the Brazilian people,” he said.

The remark was a response to reports that the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Brasília told representatives of the Brazilian Mining Institute (IBRAM) that the United States is interested in reaching agreements with the Brazilian government to secure access to so-called critical and strategic minerals such as lithium, niobium, and rare earths. In response, he was reportedly told that any such negotiations must be led by the federal government, not by private-sector executives.

Global competition for these strategic minerals, which are crucial for technological development and the energy transition, is at the heart of growing tensions between the United States and China. These resources are essential for sectors such as defense, telecommunications, and energy.

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who also serves as Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, said there is “a very long agenda to explore and advance” in ongoing talks with the U.S. when asked specifically about American interest in critical minerals.

“There are countless areas,” he said, referring to discussions he has had in recent days with representatives from several sectors, including mining.

Mr. Alckmin also met on Saturday (19) with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The vice president described the 50-minute conversation as positive and said Brazil reaffirmed its willingness to negotiate with the United States.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/25/2025

CORN ETHANOL PRODUCER FS RESUMES EXPANSION WITH R$2BN INVESTMENT

Company to build new plant in Mato Grosso following financial recovery

FS, Brazil’s second-largest corn ethanol producer, has resumed its expansion strategy after a three-year pause marked by financial strain. The company announced on Thursday (24) a R$2 billion investment to build its fourth corn ethanol plant, to be located in Campo Novo do Parecis, in the state of Mato Grosso.

The decision to move forward with expansion follows two crop years of financial tightening, during which FS faced rising debt levels stemming from earlier investments amid reduced cash flow. At the close of the 2023/24 harvest, the company’s leverage ratio (net debt to EBITDA) stood at 6.34 times, increasing to 7.39 times by the end of the first quarter of the 2024/25 crop year.

However, that ratio dropped to 2.52 times by the end of the most recent harvest, supported by a rebound in ethanol prices and higher sales volumes.

With healthier finances and rising demand anticipated due to a higher ethanol blend in gasoline, FS decided the time was right to revive its growth strategy.

Construction of the new plant began in June and is scheduled for completion by December 2026. Once operational, the facility will have an annual production capacity of 540 million liters of ethanol, 350,000 tonnes of DDG and DDGS (animal feed co-products), 69,000 tonnes of corn oil, and 56,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity.

In a statement, CEO Rafael Abud said the decision to invest in Campo Novo do Parecis was “reinforced by the approval of the Future Fuel project, which paved the way for E30 and soon E35.” Starting August 1, Brazil will increase the mandatory blend of anhydrous ethanol in gasoline from 27% to 30%.

Despite the operational improvements, FS still lacks access to lower-cost credit lines. In its latest rating review on July 1, Moody’s reaffirmed the company’s “AA-.br” rating on the national scale and “Ba3” globally, but with a negative outlook, citing persistent inflation and high interest rates in Brazil.

Moody’s noted that while FS has reduced its leverage, the company’s interest coverage remains under pressure, and any new funding raised in the domestic market is likely to come at a higher cost. In the most recent harvest, FS’s interest coverage ratio (EBIT to interest expenses) was 1.7 times—typically considered insufficient, as the market expects this metric to exceed 2.0 times for financial comfort.

The new investment will raise FS’s capital expenditures this season. Last season, the company spent R$370.9 million on expansion-related capex, primarily for incremental capacity improvements at its existing facilities. Even with those investments, FS posted R$1.32 billion in net operating cash flow after capex.

The company’s growth plan also includes a fifth plant in Querência (Mato Grosso), where preliminary work such as site grading and basic infrastructure is already underway. FS has yet to disclose the investment amount or financing details for that project. The company also declined to comment on how it plans to finance the fourth plant or what return on investment it expects.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/25/2025

BRAZIL NEARS INTERNET UNIVERSALIZATION

Streaming services reach 25% of households in 2024, banking access is growing with use of Pix, and almost every household has cell phones

In 2024, the Brazilian population had almost universal access to the internet; access to online banking services was also rapidly expanding, influenced, among other factors, by Pix; video streaming services were accessed in one in four homes; and nearly 100% of households had cell phones.

Last year, the country still had 20.5 million people without internet access; 2.1 million households lacked any kind of phone; and access to technology and related services was still limited to higher-income households.

This snapshot of access to technology in the country was detailed by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). On Thursday (24), IBGE released the Continuous PNAD: Characteristics of Information and Communication Technology survey (PNAD TIC). Conducted annually, the survey measures the evolution of Brazilians’ access to technological services and devices.

Among the 188.5 million people aged 10 or older in the country, 89.1%, or 168 million, declared to have internet access, 2.1% more than in 2023 (164.528 million). In total, internet access already reaches 93.6% of all households in 2024—compared with 92.5% in 2023.

The growth rate of internet access in households has been gradually decreasing in each survey round. This lower level of annual growth, the researchers reported, reflects an almost universal access to the internet in Brazil.

Among the reasons for accessing the internet, mapped by IBGE, “accessing banks and other financial institutions” was the one that showed the greatest growth between 2023 and 2024. “More and more people are using banks through mobile apps, for example,” commented Leonardo Quesada, an IBGE researcher.

Asked if the result could also have been impacted by increased use of Pix, the expert agreed that “it’s a reasonable hypothesis.”

On the other hand, 20.5 million people still had no internet access in 2024, or 10.9% of people aged over 10. In practice, 5.1 million households in the country had no internet access.

Lack of knowledge about the service and economic reasons were mentioned as reasons. Of those who did not use the internet, 45.6% reported not knowing how to use it, followed by those declaring lack of need (28.5%); expensive service (7.5%), and expensive equipment (3.4%).

Streaming gains

Another aspect surveyed was the use of video streaming services in the country, which reached 43.4% of Brazilian households with TV sets, or 32.654 million households, in 2024. In 2023, they were accessed in 42.1% of households with TV sets, or 31.107 million. Around 1.5 million households began to access streaming services between 2023 and 2024.

Cell phone use reached 97% of all households last year, higher than in 2023 (96.7%) and the highest share in the historical series since 2016 (93.1%).

This means that, last year, the country had 167.5 million people aged 10 or over with cell phones, 88.9% of the population in this age group. However, in 2024, 20.9 million people in Brazil still did not have a cell phone, representing 11.1% of the population aged 10 and over. The survey also showed that 2.1 million households did not have any kind of phone.

“We see that where [tech] equipment is available, the average income is much higher,” Mr. Quesada said. “Income is an important factor in explaining these differences, but, for example, when it comes to cell phone ownership, the cost of the device is still an important factor,” he noted.

In the IBGE survey, the main reason for not having a cell phone among public school students—that is, among students who don’t pay tuition, and mostly come from lower income households—was that the device was too expensive (27.7%). However, when private school students who did not have a device were asked the same question, the main reason was concern about privacy or security (33.4%).

In the results on lack of a phone and other services provided by tech devices, IBGE researchers also noted regional disparities.

The lack of phone access remained highest in 2024 in households in the Northeast (absence in 4.7% of households in the region) and North (3.2%). In the other, wealthier regions, this percentage did not exceed 2% for the same year.

Also last year, 24.3% of households in the country had access to a paid cable or satellite television service. However, in the Southeast region, the wealthiest in the country, the percentage was 31.1%. In the North and Northeast, the share was, respectively, 16.5% and 13% last year.

In the case of paid video streaming services, the average real monthly income per capita in households with this service was R$2,950 in 2024. In those without the service, it was less than half, R$1,390.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/28/2025

RECIPROCAL U.S. TRADE RETALIATION WOULD SHRINK BRAZIL’S GDP

Study suggests opening to other markets would soften the blow

Brazil could benefit from a trade retaliation strategy against the United States, if the federal government opts for one, that shifts the focus from tit-for-tat tariffs to broader trade liberalization. The idea would be to lower import tariffs on goods from other countries while maintaining current rates for U.S. products, according to André Valério, head of macroeconomic research at Inter bank, and his assistant Gustavo Menezes.

In a previous analysis, Inter’s chief economist, Rafaela Vitória, found that the impact of the proposed U.S. tariffs on the Brazilian economy would be relatively small, due to the country’s low trade openness and limited exposure to the U.S. market. A key assumption in that assessment was that Brazil would not retaliate by matching the 50% tariff on American goods.

So far, the Brazilian government says it aims to resolve the dispute through diplomatic channels. Still, retaliatory measures have been floated as a potential course of action.

Unlike its trade relationships with many other countries, the United States runs a trade surplus with Brazil, exporting more than it imports. That dynamic would make the U.S. economy more vulnerable to Brazilian retaliation than in most trade disputes. However, a tit-for-tat response—imposing a 50% tariff on U.S. imports—would also hurt Brazil, the economists said.

“Taxing these imports could trigger a ripple effect across multiple sectors, particularly in manufacturing, which heavily depends on intermediate inputs,” wrote Mr. Valério and Mr. Menezes in their study.

Smaller GDP

Their general equilibrium model estimates that a proportional retaliation would reduce Brazil’s GDP by 0.17 percentage point, on top of the damage from the U.S. tariffs themselves.

Though this may seem like a modest aggregate effect, it would be broad-based: 56 out of 66 sectors analyzed would experience losses in this scenario. Chemical manufacturing and oil refining would each see production shrink more than 6 percentage points, the study said. The broader manufacturing industry would contract by 2.1 points.

Sugar refining would also suffer a 3.8-point drop, largely due to its reliance on transportation and fuel, both directly affected by tariffs.

The negative production impact stems from the tariff shock: retaliatory tariffs would effectively raise taxes on the chemical industry by 3 points and on oil refining by 2.5 points. Even agriculture would be affected, with an effective tax hike of 1.2 points due to a 4.5-point increase on agricultural chemicals. That would shrink farm output by 3.4 points and agrochemical manufacturing by 4.4 points.

The most heavily taxed individual product would be mineral coal, where the 50-point tariff hike on U.S. imports would translate into an effective tax of 18.8 points. “Ironically, the domestic coal sector—the one most protected by the tariff—would be among the hardest hit, because of its heavy reliance on chemical inputs. This highlights the potential harm of a retaliation policy that overlooks sectoral complexities,” wrote Mr. Valério and Mr. Menezes.

Next in line would be various chemical products, with an 11.9-point tax hike on inorganic chemicals and 4 points on organic chemicals, as well as capital goods, which—even if not mostly sourced from the U.S.—lack local substitutes.

“This analysis suggests retaliation would not be a beneficial strategy for Brazil, as it would deepen distortions in the economy,” the economists said.

Redirection of imports

An alternative that does not appear to be under government consideration, they said, would be retaliating by reducing import tariffs for goods from the rest of the world, while keeping U.S. tariffs unchanged. This could lead to a redirection of imports.

For instance, a 10-point across-the-board tariff cut on imports from other countries could raise Brazil’s GDP by 0.12 point, benefiting 57 of the 66 sectors analyzed.

“Petroleum refining, one of the hardest-hit sectors under reciprocal retaliation, would be among the biggest winners in the alternative scenario, where import taxes from other countries are cut. This is an important factor in weighing potential retaliation strategies, since refining has a strong export role in the Brazilian economy,” the economists wrote.

In that case, oil refining output would rise 3.5 points, chemical manufacturing 5.4 points, and both sugar refining and agriculture by 3 points or more.

The biggest tax relief on any single product would be for electronic components, down 9.9 points, followed by chemicals, fish, coal, and various capital goods—“reflecting differences in Brazil’s import profile from the U.S. versus other countries,” Mr. Valério and Mr. Menezes said.

Sectors hit hardest by reciprocal tariffs would also be the biggest winners from the alternative response. In addition, apparel manufacturing, IT, automobiles, and auto parts would benefit, especially from lower tariffs on electronic components.

“These simulations show how distortive tariffs can be and suggest that a more beneficial response would be to further open the economy to international trade,” the authors concluded.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/29/2025

FINEP EXPANDS SUPPORT FOR CRITICAL MINERALS PROJECTS

Brazilian Studies and Projects Financing Agency has contracted 171 strategic minerals projects totaling R$1.4bn since 2019

With the increased demand for credit for mining critical and strategic minerals in Brazil, a sector that has come under the U.S. scrutiny after the tariff hike announced by President Donald Trump, the Brazilian Studies and Projects Financing Agency (Finep) has expanded its funding for the sector and also plans to launch a public call to promote the use of these minerals in the energy transition.

Finep has signed 171 contracts involving strategic minerals totaling R$1.4 billion since 2019. Last year, support reached a record high, with R$659.8 million contracted for 41 projects financed through repayable credit using the TR (Reference Rate), which is lower than the benchmark interest rate (Selic), and with grants for companies as well as scientific and technological institutions.

The investments are targeted at two fronts: encouraging research and development to enable the exploration of these minerals and strengthening domestic mineral processing to increase added value to national products.

Brazil has abundant reserves of critical and strategic minerals. For example, Brazil holds the second-largest rare earth reserves in the world, behind only China. However, domestic production remains low, and much of the ore is exported raw, resulting in a product with low value added.

“Finep has invested heavily in the energy transition and in the essential role of critical minerals in enabling this transformation. These minerals are strategic for Brazil from a technological and geopolitical perspective. So, we are expanding support for the domestic processing of these minerals to advance the production chain with high value-added technologies and products,” said Finep president Luiz Elias.

Projections from the International Energy Agency (IEA) indicate that global demand for copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths are expected to grow by more than 80% by 2024. In Brazil, the increase in public investment is part of the reindustrialization policy of President Lula da Silva’s third term, called NIB, and the new national mining policy, which is in the final stages of development by the federal government.

In the first half of this year, Finep contracted ten projects focused on critical minerals, totaling R$83 million.

The tally does not include a R$5 billion public call launched in partnership with the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) in January. The call, which selected projects from national and international companies, such as WEG and Stellantis, as well as small-sized mining companies and startups, involves R$ 4 billion from BNDES and R$1 billion from Finep.

“We expect the projects included in this call to increase our support in 2025, bringing us closer to the amount contracted in 2024. For 2026, we expect an even higher amount,” said Newton Hamatsu, Finep’s superintendent of energy transition and infrastructure.

The high demand for the call with BNDES, which received 124 proposals for a total of R$85.2 billion in disbursements, led BNDES to launch another public call this year. The new call will allocate R$200 million to the implementation of energy transition projects using critical minerals.

“The joint call with BNDES showed the strength and diversity of our scientific and industrial base in this sector. To enable the total investments planned for the submitted projects, we plan to launch a new call this year to support high-risk technological projects,” explained Elias Ramos, Finep’s director of innovation.

Finep downplays the impact of trade negotiations with the U.S. on investments in Brazil but emphasizes the need to continue developing the sector. “It is natural for the United States to seek to expand partnerships with Brazil in this field. I do not believe, however, that the current trade sanctions will harm Brazilian investments,” said Mr. Hamatsu.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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07/30/2025

BRAZILIAN COFFEE MAY BE SPARED U.S. TARIFFS UNDER NEW TRADE DEALS

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also mentioned pineapple, cocoa, and mango as products that could qualify for exemption

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Tuesday (29) that imports of non‑U.S. grown goods, such as coffee and cocoa, could be exempted from tariffs in new trade agreements. He explained that the administration is evaluating such exemptions, which could benefit exporting countries like Brazil, although he did not specify which nations might qualify.

In an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Mr. Lutnick said: “If you grow something and we don’t grow it, that can come in for zero, so if we do a deal with a country that grows mangos, pineapple, then they can come in without a tariff, because coffee and cocoa will be other examples of natural resources.”

Of the four products mentioned by the U.S. official—coffee, cocoa, mango, and pineapple—coffee could offer Brazil the greatest advantage. The country was the top coffee supplier to the U.S. last year. Of the $6.3 billion imported by Americans, 30% came from Brazil. Colombia ranked second with a 21% share, and Guatemala third with 7%.

For Brazil, the U.S. remained the top destination for Brazilian coffee in 2024, with $1.9 billion in sales, ahead of Germany ($1.8 billion) and Belgium ($1.1 billion). Americans have never spent so much on Brazilian unroasted coffee as in 2024, but the 17% share of Brazil’s total coffee exports was the second lowest in the past ten years, above only the 15% seen in 2023.

Coffee was the third most exported Brazilian product to the U.S. last year, trailing only petroleum ($5.8 billion) and semi-manufactured non-alloy iron or steel products ($2.8 billion).

According to a source in the coffee export industry, there is still a great deal of uncertainty. And while Mr. Lutnick’s remarks were an important signal for the sector, a potential exemption might not apply automatically to all countries or products and could also depend on bilateral negotiations.

Another product where Brazil plays a relevant role in sales to the U.S. is mango, which accounts for about 12% of American imports—making Brazil the fourth-largest supplier—although with much smaller trade values. Brazilian data shows the country exported $46 million in mangoes to the U.S. last year, ranking 101st in overall exports to the American market.

Brazil did not rank among the top 25 suppliers of cocoa beans or fresh pineapple to the U.S. last year.

Mr. Lutnick said all tariffs will be finalized by Friday, the deadline set by President Donald Trump for countries to reach trade agreements with the U.S.

On Monday, the U.S. president said that countries that have not received letters from the White House would be subject to a universal tariff of 15% to 20%. Mr. Lutnick reinforced that message on Tuesday: “But for the rest of the world, we’re going to have things done by Friday. August 1 is the date that we’re setting all these rates.”

The Brazilian government was notified by the White House on July 9 that it would face a 50% tariff: the highest rate announced in any of the letters sent by Mr. Trump. In the letter, the U.S. cited alleged “unfair trade practices” by Brazil and a supposed “witch hunt” against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial before the Supreme Federal Court for attempting a coup d’état.

The tone of Mr. Trump’s communication surprised Brazilian officials. Diplomatic officials noted that the president explicitly mixed political issues involving Mr. Bolsonaro with technical matters of bilateral trade—a move considered unprecedented in the 200-year history of relations between the two countries.

Last week, Mr. Trump said some countries received 50% tariffs because they had not “gotten along well” with the U.S. government. He did not mention Brazil by name, but it was the only country among the 25 letters sent by the Republican leader that received the 50% rate.

Commenting on ongoing negotiations with other countries, Mr. Lutnick said U.S. and European Union officials are still discussing tariffs on steel, aluminum, and digital services, continuing talks aimed at advancing the agreement announced Sunday by Mr. Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com

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1 de agosto de 2025/por Gelcy Bueno

Murray Notícias

NEWSLETTER MURRAY ADVOGADOS MARCH 2023

31 de março de 2023/por Gelcy Bueno

Murray Notícias

Newsletter Murray Advogados – Janeiro de 2023

31 de janeiro de 2023/por Gelcy Bueno

Murray Notícias

NEWSLETTER – January 2022

MURRAY ADVOGADOS

January 05, 2022

PETROBRAS EXPECTS TO PRODUCE 20BN BARRELS BY 2030 IN EFFICIENCY DRIVE

Petrobras intends to enable the production of up to 20 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the main fields operated by the company by 2030, through a program aimed at increasing the recovery factor of the deposits. Named RES20, the effort was created by the company with a focus on incorporating new reserves into assets already in the operational phase.

The 20 billion barrels include not only Petrobras’s share, but also the volumes of Petrobras’s partners in the fields operated by the company. The figure, however, is nonetheless expressive. For comparison purposes, the company has produced 23 billion barrels over nearly seven decades of history.

The recovery factor indicates the percentage of the volume originally contained in a reservoir — the volume “in place” — that has already been extracted. In Brazil, these rates are historically low, in relation to what is seen, for example, in the North Sea, in Europe. According to the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), in the Campos Basin, where the main mature fields in the country are located, the recovered oil fraction is 15.8%.

In the case of mature fields, increasing the recovery factor means ensuring the extension of the asset’s useful life. Not all volume “in place” is economically recoverable, but by investing in the growth of the recovered fraction, the company is able to add more reserves to its portfolio — that is, more commercially viable volumes.

In a note, Petrobras highlighted that the RES20 will work with more well-defined and detailed deposit models. The company’s 2022-2026 business plan foresees investments of $2.5 billion in high-resolution seismic acquisitions for this purpose.

Among the assets expected to receive investments to increase the recovery factor are Roncador, in the Campos Basin post-salt, and Tupi, in the Santos Basin pre-salt.

Source: Valor International

January 05, 2022

BRAZILIAN COMPANIES LIKELY TO DRIVE M&A ACTIVITY THIS YEAR

Brazilian companies had a prominent role in mergers and acquisitions this year and are likely to be major consolidators in 2022, investment banks told Valor. Dealogic data shows that M&A activity totaled $87.7 billion up to December 20, surpassing by 26% the amount seen in 2020. In volume, 695 deals were closed, up 24% from 2020 and a record of the last 10 years.

The 571 deals involving Brazilian groups totaled $69.8 billion, while the 135 deals of foreign groups buying Brazilian companies reached $20.8 billion, according to Dealogic.

Data from consultancy Kroll show that the total number of operations totaled about R$ 600 million, with 1,500 transactions, a new record, with a more “multisectoral” profile than in other parts of the world.

“We saw activity in all sectors: retail, food and beverage, industrial, health, education, agribusiness, technology, services, oil and gas, and in techs, which is good for overall performance,” said Alexandre Pierantoni, head of corporate finance in Brazil at Kroll. He highlighted fields such as retail, logistics and healthcare, besides technology companies associated with these sectors.

Contrary to capital market offerings, which are expected to slow down next year due to the strong volatility caused by the presidential elections, M&A activity is likely to remain heated this year.

“Some companies that have given up on going public tend to seek private investors as an alternative,” said Diogo Aragão, head of M&A in Brazil at Bank of America.

Those companies that went public whose shares have devalued sharply this year may become targets of consolidator groups, Mr. Aragão said.

A group of 30 to 40 companies intended to go public between the end of this year and the first quarter of 2022, but postponed their plans due to the worsening of market conditions from September on, said Roderick Greenlees, head of investment banking at Itaú BBA.

“To make their projects viable, companies will look for an alternative, and the M&A path seems the most favorable today,” he said. Even so, the growth rate seen last year is unlikely to be repeated.

Mr. Greenlees recalled that, in the last three years, the capital market was extremely active and tapped by many companies with expansion projects. Thus, it was possible to see the result of capital injection in 2021, a very strong year for M&A, both in terms of number and financial volume. “The more we have listed companies, the greater the M&A activity.”

But there is caution from potential buyers about companies that have given up going public and are looking for a private investor. “There is an understanding that the consolidating groups are not willing to pay any price for the asset,” said Gustavo Miranda, head of investment banking at Santander. “The companies that gave up on IPOs had defined a very high price range for their assets.”

Another consensus is that private equity funds (which buy stakes in companies) are willing to look at assets in Brazil, which are cheap because of the weakened real.

Technology, health and education companies will continue to be acquisition targets, as in recent years. Another sector that will continue to be attractive is renewable energy, with interest from local and foreign companies.

“Renewable energy companies are the new tech companies. Biofuels and recycling companies will also continue to draw buyers,” said Mr. Aragão, with BofA.

This year, the number of M&A deals with volumes over $1 billion drew attention, representing about 6% of the deals, said Daniel Bassan, CEO of UBS BB. “This share was around 2% in the previous three years,” he said. The growth seen in large deals was driven by the capital market, where companies took advantage of IPOs and secondary offerings to make their expansion plans feasible.

For Mr. Bassan, the volatility expected for the coming months is expected to open M&A opportunities in the coming months. This is likely to keep activity strong in this segment given that many companies have been capitalized. “But I don’t see companies very leveraged. They don’t need to do business at any cost,” he said.

“Companies used to tap the market to pay debt and reduce leverage. Now most of them have focused on growth,” he said. Next year, with the proximity of the election and a more challenging macroeconomic backdrop, investors – whether financial or strategic – are likely to look at more advantageous deals. “Private equity firms, which have made many divestments, are now likely to start investing again. It will be a year of great opportunity for this class of investor,” he said.

Eduardo Miras, head of investment banking in Brazil at Citi, also sees venture capital funds looking for business opportunities, as well as unicorns (startups valued at over $1 billion). The executive, however, declined to offer any forecast for the number of M&A deals in 2022.

For Mr. Greenlees, the expectation is that the number of deals will remain close to stability, but that the financial volume will fall. “There is a substantial number of deals in the pipeline, due to the worsening of the capital market, but I believe that the size of the operations will be a little smaller.”

Source: Valor International

January 06, 2022

WAREHOUSES ARE IN FOR ANOTHER HEATED YEAR

The warehouse segment is in for another heated year, with multi-billion investments and high demand for leasing. E-commerce companies, retailers and the pharmaceutical industry are in the front line, and there is a search for areas for storage, exchange and distribution of products from in places as diverse as the city of São Paulo – Brazil’s largest market – and states like Minas Gerais, Bahia and Pernambuco.

Warehouse gross absorption, an indicator of new leasing contracts, grew 19% last year in the state of São Paulo, to 2.75 million square meters, data by consultancy CBRE show. Net absorption, which is the difference between leased and vacated areas, expanded 22%, to 1.56 million square meters. The consolidated figures for Brazil have not yet been disclosed, but CBRE expects that gross absorption has exceeded 5 million square meters. Both indicators meant all-time highs. Vacancy fell 1.4 percentage points in 2021, to 12.3%.

The volumes seen in the state of São Paulo and in Brazil are likely to remain flat in 2022, said Fernando Terra, senior director of industrial and logistics for Latin America at CBRE.

On the one hand, a slowdown in e-commerce is not expected, Mr. Terra said. On the other hand, most of the main companies in the segment have contracted a substantial volume of large warehouses in the last two years. “Certainly, the big players will take smaller areas,” he said. At the same time, e-commerce players that arrived recently in Brazil, like Shopee and Alibaba, are likely to pick larger warehouses.

As the vacancy rate of warehouses fell, the next effect of the heated demand will be higher rental prices, said Giancarlo Nicastro, CEO of SiiLA, a consultancy focused on real estate. In view of the high new inventory expected for the Brazilian market, however, there may be some increase in the share of vacant spaces in relation to the total.

“The year starts with scheduled delivery of 3.7 million square meters in Brazil, an all-time high. Even if the total reaches only 2.6 million square meters, the vacancy rate tends to rise a little,” Mr. Nicastro said. The announced figures are usually adjusted later, he said. In 2021, the initial projection of new warehouse stock was 3.38 million square meters, but the real volume was 2.2 million.

There may be some delay in construction works, said Mariana Hanania, head of research and market intelligence in Brazil at Newmark. Part of what is under construction is already leased, she said, so there is no risk of oversupply. “Even as there was an important growth in stock, vacancy is falling,” the executive said. In the state of São Paulo, deliveries of projects have occurred mainly in regions with almost no vacancy, and a relevant part of the new stock results from the expansion of already existing projects, she added.

Amid the heated demand, warehouse developers continue to disburse large amounts to expand their assets. Bresco plans to invest R$1 billion this year as part of a plan to have a portfolio twice as large by 2024. In 2021, its assets totaled R$3.2 billion.

The consortium formed by Credit Suisse, BTG Pactual, Construtora São José and Fram Capital, which will develop a set of warehouses on land that once belonged to Ford in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, estimates to start deliveries in a year’s time and to finish it by 2024. Total investments in the purchase of the land, permits and construction work are estimated at R$1.3 billion.

Although most of the segment’s funds are destined for locations up to 30 kilometers from the city of São Paulo, there has also been the development of projects in other states. “Those who live in Pará or Amazonas also want to receive the product in one day, just like in São Paulo. This results in an avalanche of investments,” said Celina Antunes, CEO at real estate company Cushman & Wakefield.

Log Commercial Properties is the country’s most geographically diversified warehouse company. Considering finished projects and works in progress, it has facilities in 39 cities. The company expects to invest R$900 million this year. “We will have a very active year, with record investments and revenues. We will deliver almost 500,000 square meters of GLA [gross leasable area], most of it with construction already started,” CEO Sergio Fischer said. From the total to be concluded, 70% to 80% is already leased.

There may be an excess supply of warehouses in two years, considering that technological advances for cargo movement may result in the need for fewer square meters, said Nessim Sarfati, founder of Barzel Properties Gestora de Recursos. “But there is still much space for absorption of warehouses.”

Bruno Mendonça, a real estate market analyst at Bradesco BBI, expects more demand than supply of projects. But just like other segments of the real estate market, the one of warehouses has been impacted by the pressure of input costs, according to him.

Walter Cardoso, CEO at consultancy CBRE, believes that purchases and sales in the warehouse market are likely to fall this year after reaching R$8.7 billion in 2021, an all-time high. The potential drop would be driven by higher interest rates and lower fundraising by real estate investment funds. If an entire portfolio of warehouses is traded, however, the 2021 figure may be surpassed, Mr. Cardoso said. The executive also said that, in election years like this one, instability usually prompts a “flight to real estate.”

Source: Valor international

January 10, 2022

COMPANIES UNVEIL $500BN OF INVESTMENTS BY 2030

Companies are likely to take a wait-and-see approach regarding investment decision-making this year. But some segments, benefited by structural reforms or boosted by international prices, will put their money to work.

Basic sanitation, logistics, energy, oil and steelmaking are in the front line, according to company executives and business plans unveiled in documents delivered to the capital market regulator.

These companies, mostly large players on the stock exchange, can be a safe haven for a capital market that is coming off a drop in 2021 while international peers have seen all-time highs.

More than $500 billion in investments have been announced until 2030, according to a preliminary survey by consulting firm Deloitte. The highlights are the petrochemical and steel industries, and projects linked to oil and gas. These are investments unveiled for the medium to long term, with the prospect of a larger volume of allocation of funds this year than in 2021.

Petrobras, Brazil’s largest company by revenues, unveiled in November a $68 billion business plan for the 2022-2026 period – up 23% from the previous one – focused on exploration and production of oil and natural gas. In this period, the divestments foreseen by the state-owned company will be between $15 billion and $25 billion, which in theory paves the way for new investments from the companies that will take over these assets. That has been happening in recent years amid Petrobras’s effort to reduce its debt pile.

In the basic sanitation industry, large figures are also expected. Between 2022 and 2026, water utilities Sabesp (São Paulo), Copasa (Minas Gerais), Sanepar (Paraná) – the three largest listed companies in the sector – and Corsan (Rio Grande do Sul), which is expected to go public this year, have unveiled combined investments of R$45.5 billion, up 67% from the amount spent between 2017 and 2021.

That’s almost eight times what they had on hand at the end of September, and compares with combined assets of R$81 billion and net equity of R$43 billion in the same month. The market capitalization of the three public companies totaled R$37 billion at the beginning of this year. Corsan’s stock offering, a privatization on the stock exchange, may raise R$1 billion.

“Corsan will be the first opportunity of this new cycle to enter the sector through the stock exchange. The basic sanitation market has many gains to be extracted, and there is a lack of companies to invest in, so Corsan can be a vehicle for a future expansion across Brazil,” Fábio Abrahão, head of infrastructure, concessions and public–private partnership at the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), told Valor last month.

According to the new regulatory framework, from July 2020, the companies will have to provide drinking water to 99% of the population and sewage collection and treatment to 90% by December 31, 2033, which would finally take the country out of its secular backwardness in this sector. Since the approval of the framework, at least R$42.2 billion have been guaranteed by the companies that participated in the auctions organized by the federal government, including that for Rio de Janeiro-based Cedae.

Basic sanitation will be a highlight, credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings said, but it is part of a broader spectrum of the role of infrastructure in attracting investments in the coming years, which goes beyond short-term issues such as elections.

“Infrastructure investors are not short term. Infrastructure is a very deficient field, and taking on this risk is actually taking on Brazil risk,” said Julyana Yokota, an infrastructure analyst at S&P.

Another important road for capital inflow in the communications infrastructure is the fifth-generation mobile network (5G). The auction held in early November will bring R$47.2 billion, according to the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), considering fixed concession payments and investments to be made over the term of the contracts.

As expected, Brazil’s largest operators – América Móvil’s Claro, Telefónica and Telecom Italia’s TIM – had a prominent role, but the market will also have new players, which brings more money to the table. Of the 15 bidders, 12 bought frequency blocks, 7 of which are newcomers.

One is Ceará-based Brisanet, which won three lots. A few months earlier, the company went public and raised R$1.25 billion, most of it earmarked for network expansion, according to the prospectus of the IPO.

Mining and steelmaking will continue to have a substantial weight this year – on the stock exchange, trade balance and investments. Vale, Brazil’s largest exporter, set aside $5.8 billion for this year, up 7.4% year-over-year. The mining company’s projection, made in a meeting with analysts in late November, is to maintain capital expenditures around $5 billion to $6 billion per year. The forecast is to reach, by the end of next year, 370 million tonnes of iron ore production capacity, which may recover the levels of demand and price seen in the first half of last year if a Chinese recovery comes after the pandemic comes to an end.

CSN Mineração expects a balanced world iron ore market in 2022, with reduced restrictions on steel production in China and a small increase in supply. The investment planned for this year, about R$5 billion, is 70% higher than that of 2021.

In a meeting with investors in early December, chief financial officer Pedro Oliva said he expects ore to be traded between $100 and $120 a tonne this year. At the peak of what was seen as a new commodities boom at some point, the price was over $200.

In the steel industry, prices are expected to remain at levels much higher than recent years, even with the adjustments already put in place, said Luis Fernando Martinez, executive director at CSN, at the same event. The steelmaker foresees investments of R$4.1 billion this year, up from R$2.8 billion in 2021.

Competitor Gerdau foresees capacity increase investments in Brazil of $500 million starting in 2024. This year, the company will invest $130 million in the North American operations and $140 million in specialty steel.

(André Ramalho, Rafael Rosas and Ana Paula Machado contributed to this story.)

Source: Valor international

January 10, 2022

COMMODITIES DOMINATE EXPORTS EVEN IN SÃO PAULO

Commodities are grabbing an increasing share of exports across nationwide. In all regions, products related to agribusiness or the extractive industries ended the year dominating foreign sales. Soybeans have become the champion of shipments in ten states, crude oil or oil products are in the lead in three federative units and iron ore is now the main product exported in three others.

According to data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex), the share of the manufacturing industry in Brazilian exports shrank to 51.3% in 2021 from 63% in 2010. This category also covers agribusiness products that undergo some type of industrial processing, such as meat, pulp and refined sugar.

Even São Paulo, Brazil’s most industrialized state, has its export basket led by commodities. Sugar ($5.6 billion last year) and crude oil ($4.3 billion) — whose production has soared in recent years because of the pre-salt layer — are the two goods most sold abroad. Embraer aircraft, the first purely industry item, came in third and contributed $2.3 billion.

In Paraná, passenger vehicle — which come at the front among manufactured goods outside agribusiness or extractive industry — are only the eighth most exported product. Also in eighth are shoes in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Both states had soybeans as a prominent product in 2021.

For economist Paulo Gala, professor at the School of Economics at Fundação Getulio Vargas, the fact that the Brazilian map is now dominated by commodities allows for two thoughts. First: no state manages to have a sufficiently sophisticated exports agenda to have highly technological products — instead of grains, oil or minerals — as sales champions. Second: the Brazilian industry is predominantly focused on the domestic market and still lacks greater global competitiveness.

In his view, only a few micro-regions of the country — around cities like Campinas, Piracicaba (both in São Paulo), Caxias do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul) and Betim (Minas Gerais) — managed to transform themselves into “islands” of innovation and productivity, with leading industries. No wonder, he adds, they are among the municipalities with the highest per capita income.

“Only a few hubs have sophisticated export-oriented industries driving the local economy, but these hubs don’t come to dominate a entire state,” Mr. Gala said. “What brings jobs, income and reduced inequality is the production of complex goods. They require research and development, technology, patents. Embraer, WEG and Marcopolo are counterexamples of our incapacity for commercial insertion in the world,” he said.

According to the professor, not even the weakened real since the beginning of 2020 has been enough to avoid the loss of space of the industry in exports, compared to agribusiness and mineral extraction. “The weakened real helps price competitiveness, not quality competitiveness. The real exchange rate is at its lowest level in the last 20 years, but we need a much heavier science and technology policy and industrial stimulus,” he said.

The domination of commodities has intensified, said José Augusto de Castro, head of the Brazilian Foreign Trade Association (AEB). He estimates the deficit in manufactured products at $70 billion to $80 billion. On Monday, Secex unveiled a record balance of $61 billion in the balance of trade last year – obviously counting all kinds of products, not only those related to industry.

In his view, Brazil is now excessively dependent on three products (soy, oil and iron ore), which represent around 40% of total shipments, and on a single market (China) that buys 32% of our exports.

“In the 1980s, people complained a lot about the dependence on the United States, but the American market absorbed around 25% of Brazilian exports and there was more product diversification. At that time, eight of the ten main export items were manufactured goods. Now, the top 15 are commodities.”

In descending order, the 15 main products sold by Brazil last year were: iron ore, soybeans, crude oil, refined sugar, beef, soybean meal, fuel oils, chicken meat, pulp, semi-finished products or ingots of iron and steel, coffee, gold, corn, cotton and copper.

Therefore, Mr. Castro links the recent trade balance surpluses to the favorable price environment, not to the support of public policies. “The Brazil cost is still very high and the government has ended Reintegra [a program that reimburses companies for part of the taxes paid along the production chain], in addition to having reduced resources for financing exports, under Proex.”

Source: Valor international

January 10, 2022

ANALYSIS: XP’S ACQUISITION OF MODAL CAN BE A MASTERSTROKE

The acquisition of Banco Modal by XP Inc. brings to the financial group founded by Guilherme Benchimol R$30.4 billion in assets under custody, 501,400 active clients and a portfolio line of credit of R$606.8 million, data from the third-quarter results show. It may seem little for XP, which was already near R$800 billion under its umbrella, with 3.3 million active clients and R$8.6 billion in collateralized credit operations. But far from being a negligible step in the consolidation of the investment market in Brazil, XP’s bid can be considered a masterstroke.

With the countless agreements closed by Modal, such as the sale of up to 35% of its capital to Credit Suisse in mid-2020, the digital bank was one competitor with the potential to cause problems to XP. In the premium segment, which serves customers with at least R$300,000 in assets, Modal had been offering asset allocation with the Credit Suisse brand. Modal’s mobile application made available 28 exclusive funds from the Swiss group’s private banking in Brazil and the plan was to reach 40 in the first quarter of 2022.

In a meeting with investors in mid-December, Modal CEO Cristiano Ayres said that more than just a pretty name, the presence of Credit Suisse was the way to offer financial advice similar to what is done with large fortunes. The relationship with the Swiss group also paved the way for Modal to take part in the syndicate of banks in capital market operations and distribute assets originated by the firm to its retail base.

The foreign partner’s seal of approval also helps draw independent and professional brokerage firms to the platform, Mr. Ayres said. Modal had been moving forward in this distribution channel since the acquisition of the research company Eleven, which already had relationships with several asset management firms, including competitors.

Another front in which Modal had been investing was in the so-called “B2B2C,” in which it offered financial services to various partners. It already had agreements with companies such as Rappi, Dotz and Conta Black.

Acquisitions made by Modal to create an “ecosystem of financial well-being” are also in line with the businesses where XP demarcated its territory, including financial education and training of professionals, whether in investments or technology.

Source: Valor international

January 11, 2022

RENEWABLE POWER COMPANIES BECOME ACQUISITION TARGETS

At least four renewable power companies are for sale in Brazil, attracting the interest of groups and asset management companies, including from overseas. The two main assets — Ibitu and Rio Energy — are valued at R$12 billion, according to sources. Other businesses on the block are Renova Energia, which divested projects in 2021 and may sell others in the judicial recovery plan, and EDP Renováveis, with an open strategy of asset rotation.

With the increased global demand for clean energy, renewable companies in Brazil have become the target of interest from international investors. A survey by Itaú BBA, conducted at Valor’s request, shows that 22 deals were closed in the sector last year, with a business value of R$16 billion. For this year, the estimate is to reach R$20 billion.

Part of the recent investments made in the sector came from private equity funds (which buy stakes in companies) that now want to get out of the business. “Project development groups sell assets to recycle capital to invest in other projects,” said Gustavo Miranda, head of investment banking at Santander.

Put up for sale in the middle of last year, Ibitu, controlled by the American asset manager Castlelake, has wind and hydroelectric assets in Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Piauí, Santa Catarina, Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais — with more than 877 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity.

The renewable power company originated from the assets of Queiroz Galvão Energia, when the group went into financial crisis amid the now questioned anti-corruption task force Car Wash and put subsidiaries under judicial reorganization. The American private equity fund Castlelake bought the power subsidiary’s debt and took over the business.

With multibillion expansion plans for the business, Castlelake began to be harassed by funds and hired BTG Pactual and Credit Suisse to find an interested party for its assets, valued between $900 million and $1 billion.

Another target is Rio Energy. After giving up on making an IPO last year, the company controlled by U.S.-based private equity firm Denham Capital hired Bank of America (BofA) and Itaú BBA to sell its business, sources familiar with the matter say.

Rio Energy has three operational wind farms totaling nearly 485 MW in installed capacity in Bahia and Ceará, besides two wind farms in Bahia and one in Ceará expected to start in 2022. This is not the first time the company has negotiated the sale of its business. After dropping out of the IPO, the company is once again looking for a buyer. The assets are valued at around R$6 billion.

Another company that may sell assets in 2022 is Renova Energia. In judicial reorganization since 2020, the company sold Brasil PCH for R$1.1 billion and its stake in the Serra da Prata Hydroelectric Complex to settle part of its debt in the market. The power generating company still has a debt of around R$2 billion and is expected to continue divesting assets.

The Alto Sertão III wind farm, in Bahia, will remain with the company. However, the company still has 16 projects in development with leasing contracts, and 12 of these areas already have a previous environmental permit for the development of wind farms, which makes these areas eligible. The areas are located in Bahia, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Piauí, and have a generation potential of around 3.62 GW. The company is studying which one will be sold.

One of the main countries drawing investments in this segment, Brazil is on the radar of investors, since it has natural resources, lower costs and stable regulation. Furthermore, excluding the Unite States and Europe, funds from around the world do not find large platforms for investments in this sector.

“Brazil combines a large market and regulatory stability for renewable power generation,” said Alexandre Viana, a partner and head of consulting at Thymos. A practical example of this is that Brazil is once again on EDP’s radar. Last year, EDP Brasil acquired 100% of AES Inova and made partnerships in the viability of large-scale solar plants. CEO João Marques da Cruz often says that the company’s strategy involves the sale of operational assets to finance new investments.

The generation arm, EDP Renováveis, has Brazil in its 2021-2025 horizon. With global installed capacity of more than 12.6 GW, the goal is to reach 20 GW of capacity by 2025. The devaluation of the Brazilian currency is another point that made the assets cheaper and may draw the attention of international players. The already weakened real can fall even more and some analysts say the foreign exchange rate may reach R$6 to the dollar this quarter. The company put up for sale a hydroelectric plant in Espírito Santo and two others in Amapá. Pipeline, Valor’s business website, first reported last year that the assets of EDP, Ibitu and Rio Energy were put up for sale.

Consultants heard by Valor believe that wind and solar will remain as leaders of this business in 2022, because these sources are the pillar of growth in terms of profitability, scale and consolidated industry.

In addition, the ESG agenda linked to these sources and the learning curve that has cheapened the price of megawatt-hours has drawn the attention of players who want to diversify their operations, from companies seeking long-term risk management to oil companies.

The privatization drive has not progressed as the government says it wanted, but the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) announced that the stock offering of the state-owned company will be launched in mid-March. After that, the federal government will no longer hold 72.33% of the voting capital and will be diluted in the total capital of the company. The expectation is that the government’s stake will fall to 45% and that it will no longer be the majority shareholder in the power company. That situation would likely draw investors, from individuals to corporations.

Mr. Viana, with Thymos, added that the opening of the free energy market, a segment in which companies with high energy demand can negotiate directly with generation companies and traders, will probably drive mergers and acquisitions in Brazil. The BNDES and the Banco do Nordeste (BNB), major players that finance expansion projects in the electricity sector, want to develop projects in the free market and in renewable power.

Other operations have been going on since 2021 and are likely to materialize this year. One is the merger between the energy assets of Votorantim Energia and the Canadian pension fund CPPI, which is expected to create one of the largest energy groups, Nova VTRM, valued at R$15 billion and owner of a number of renewable generation assets and control of Cesp. The company received an investment of R$1.5 billion from CPPI for expansion that can be done in greenfield and acquisitions.

Denham Capital, EDP Renováveis, Ibitu, Renova and Rio Energy declined to comment. Castlelake did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Source: Valor international

January 12, 2022

BRAZIL EXPANDS DATA CENTERS DRIVEN BY DEMAND FROM CLOUD GIANTS

Given the increase in demand for cloud services and the expected improvement of the structure of Chinese providers in Brazil, companies specializing in building large data centers in the country, such as Ascenty, Equinix, Odata, Scala, say that 2021 was a year of high demand and 2022 will be no different.

Besides the increase in the structures of large U.S.-based providers (AWS, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle and others), which contract operations in the interior of São Paulo and in Rio de Janeiro, the expansion plans include projections for operations of Chinese giants.

Huawei, which began offering cloud services in Brazil in 2016 using the structure of phone carrier Vivo before having its own data centers in 2019, is a client of companies that build data centers in the country. Huawei has two data centers in the city of São Paulo and has expansion plans for 2022. “We have an aggressive expansion plan, but we cannot unveil this to the market yet,” the company told Valor.

Tencent, one of the largest internet service providers in the world – owner of video game developer Riot Games, famous for the title League of Legends – opened its first cloud center in the country in November. Then, the Chinese company said that the data center in São Paulo will serve companies in Brazil and in other Latin American countries as part of a global network of Tencent Cloud’s data centers with footprint in 27 regions.

Brazil is also in sight of Alibaba’s cloud division. Sources say the country is key for Alibaba Cloud, which currently operates in 70 countries, including two data center infrastructures in the East and West coasts of the United States, but has no operations in Latin America.

Alibaba, China’s main provider of computing cloud infrastructure as a service, held the third largest share of the world market in 2020 (9.5%), data by consultancy Gartner show. The first one, AWS, held 40.8% of the market, followed by Microsoft with 19.2%. Huawei debuted in the ranking of the five largest providers in 2020, in the fifth position, with a 4.2% share, behind Google, the fourth place, with 6.1%.

Alibaba’s plans, however, have no date yet. The group operates in the country through online marketplace AliExpress and, more recently, through logistics company Cainiao, which started to meet AliExpress demands locally last year.

After the rush for business digitalization at the beginning of the pandemic, 2021 was a year of consolidation and expansion of projects, which raised the demand for outsourced data centers. “Companies’ digitization drive consolidated in 2021,” said Eduardo Carvalho, general director in Brazil at Equinix. “Despite the economy and the market, all market segments increased investments in cloud computing last year,” he said.

Companies’ data and applications migration to the cloud also reflects the search for cost reduction with machine maintenance, space to expand their operations and the concern with network resilience. “I visited a customer in the region of Avenida Paulista, in São Paulo, who put big servers in the office reception because he handled all the data infrastructure internally, but ran out of space,” said Marcos Siqueira, chief operating officer at Ascenty.

The company, which has the largest number of active data centers in the country – 18 since its foundation in 2010 – invested R$160 million to open two data centers in Hortolândia (São Paulo) and Rio de Janeiro. This year, it will open its fifth data center in Hortolândia.

To create resilience zones, with more than one data center as a safe haven, the expansion of Brazilian data centers has been concentrated in cities near the city of São Paulo, such as Barueri and Osasco, and the nearby countryside, such as Hortolândia, Vinhedo and Santana de Parnaíba.

Source: Valor international

January 13, 2022

BRAZILIAN FIRMS RAISED RECORD AMOUNT IN 2021, EMBRAER SELLS SUBSIDIARIES IN PORTUGAL, VIA BUYS LOGISTICS STARTUP

Brazilian companies raised R$596bn in domestic capital market in 2021, an all-time high

The Brazilian capital market had a landmark year. Companies in the country raised R$596 billion in 2021 considering equity, bonds and hybrid instruments, up 60% year over year and the highest amount since records began, said Anbima, the association of securities firms.

The companies also raised $24.8 billion abroad, down 4.7% year over year. Considering funds raised locally and abroad, Brazilian companies got R$734 billion.

In variable income, companies issued R$128.1 billion, which was not higher than the nominal result of 2010, of R$150.3 billion. However, the figure of 11 years ago includes a one-off move by oil giant Petrobras, which raised R$120.3 billion.

In fixed income and hybrid instruments, companies raised R$467.9 billion in 2021. This is another record. The bond market alone totaled R$253.4 billion, more than double that of 2020.

Embraer sells subsidiaries in Portugal to Aernnova Aerospace for $172m

Embraer unveiled on Wednesday that it has sold two subsidiaries in Portugal, Embraer Portugal Estruturas Metálicas (EEM) and Embraer Portugal Estruturas empósitos (EEC), to Spain’s Aernnova Aerospace for $172 million. Both companies supply components used in aircraft manufacture and, after the closing of the deal, scheduled for the first quarter, they will continue to supply parts to Embraer.

The sale is neutral for the company, says Citi. The bank questions whether the company has not created unnecessary complexity. Citi has a neutral recommendation for Embraer, with a $17.50 price target for American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Via buys logistics startup CNT

Via, owner of Casas Bahia and Ponto, announced the acquisition of 100% of the capital stock of the logistics startup CNT, which specializes in complete offers for e-commerce operations, according to a statement to the market. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.

According to Via, the transaction value consists of a fixed and a variable portion, with the fixed portion implying a multiple of about 0.20 times the gross volume of goods (GMV) in 2021. The variable part is conditioned to the achievement of performance targets and the permanence of CNT’s main executives at the head of the business.

CNT is specialized in complete offers for e-commerce operations, multi marketplace and platforms in the “plug & play” model, and have been operating for 11 years in the provision of complete logistics services (fulfillment) and for four years in services in e-commerce (full commerce).

Source: Valor international

January 14, 2022

AS BRAZILIAN EXPORTS GROW, CHINA GRABS LARGER SHARE

Brazilian exports grew 34% year over year in value in 2021, more than offsetting the 5% loss reported in the previous year. The growth led to a record shipment of $280.6 billion last year, but had uneven distribution by destinations. The increase in shipments was almost all directed to China, which grabbed a larger share of Brazilian exports compared with before the pandemic. The Chinese share of the values shipped by Brazil rose to 31.3% last year from 28.7% in 2019. Asia as a whole advanced four percentage points in the same period, reaching 46% in 2021.

Exports to the United States, European Union and South America also grew last year compared with 2019, but at a lower rate than China’s 38,5% rise over the same period or than the average of Brazilian shipments, according to federal government data. With this, the American share in the value of Brazilian exports fell to 11.1% from 13.4%. The European Union had a small reduction, to 13% from 13.6%, but now holds the lowest share since official records began, in 1997. South America’s share shrunk to 12.1% from 12.6%. This is not the lowest share ever because last year, as the region’s economy suffered more due to the pandemic, its share was 10.8%.

The Foreign Trade Indicator (Icomex), which is surveyed by Fundação Getulio Vargas’s Brazilian Institute of Economics (FGV/Ibre) and considers the volume alone, excluding the price effect, shows growth in shipments to China. Even as there were slowdowns or even falls in some periods, the survey suggests that shipments to China are on the rise considering data since 2008, said Lia Valls, a research associate at Ibre. The volume exported by Brazil to the Asian country grew more than 360% in 2021 versus 2008, the Icomex shows. On the other hand, the volume shipped to the United States fell 18.6%, while exports to Argentina and the European Union dropped 30% and 28%, respectively, in the same comparison.

It is important to highlight the effect of volumes, Ms. Valls said, because the value shipped by Brazil last year grew predominantly by the price factor, driven by key items like agricultural and metal commodities. Iron ore had a prominent role. Still according to Icomex, the average price of exports rose 29.3% year over year in 2021. In volume, shipments increased at a much slower pace, 3.2%.

Structural and cyclical issues explain Asia’s largest share in Brazilian exports, said Livio Ribeiro, a researcher at Ibre and a partner at BRCG Economic Consultants. “The most structural issue is that we are developing an export agenda that is very complementary to the Asian value chain. This is true for China, which leads many of the region’s productive processes, but it includes other countries on the continent, such as Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and even Indonesia,” he said. That’s why the increase in export value in 2021 was not evenly distributed among the blocs, according to him. “About 90% of that margin went almost entirely to China.”

Brazil’s tariff structure for exports to the European Union, Mr. Ribeiro compares, is not very different from China, considering the prominent role of agricultural and metal commodities. “But Asia has been buying the incremental [volume], and this makes sense when you consider that China and Asia have been growing above the global average and the eurozone countries have been growing less than the United States.”

The long-term path in volumes follows similar logic, Ms. Valls said. The European Union has had much lower growth than Asia and the United States since the 2008 financial crisis, she recalled. The picture is similar to the recovery seen over the past year, after the first cycle of the pandemic, Mr. Ribeiro said, which is already the broader factor of the scenario, as Asia overcame the health crisis more quickly with the first variants of Covid-19 and resumed economic growth with more vigor.

In relation to South America, the Argentina factor weighs the most. For economists, there is no prospect of a faster recovery in the values exported to the region if there is no more sustained recovery of the Argentine economy over time. At the same time, Mr. Ribeiro said, there is also a reorganization of the automotive sector, with many factories settled in Argentina, which does not favor Brazil.

Source: Valor International

January 17, 2022

FREE POWER MARKET CAN GENERATE R$6.3BN IN INVESTMENTS IN 10 YEARS

The free power market, a segment in which consumers with high demand negotiate directly with generation companies and traders, may generate R$6.3 billion in investments in 10 years to draw customers, a projection by consultancy Thymos Energia made at Valor’s request shows.

The cost for companies to draw consumers who want to migrate from the regulated market to the free power market is higher than R$1,000, the consultancy said. However, the value is expected to fall to only R$100 as a result of a digitalization drive.

The calculation is based on the number of potential consumers that can migrate from the regulated market to the free market. In Brazil, there are about 87 million consumers. However, Alexandre Viana, a partner and head of consulting at Thymos, believes that about 63 million will change to the free market.

“The cost of drawing customers multiplied by the number of consumers who can migrate to the free market is equal to R$6.3 billion in investments in 10 years, excluding other injections that may come from generation and services,” he said.

The consultancy’s survey outlines a conservative, a baseline and an aggressive scenarios for electricity consumption and projects that the free power market will account for almost 73% of the total load of the National Interconnected System (SIN) in 2035, compared with 35.4% now.

This scenario takes into account that as of 2024 the free market will open fully to all consumers of high voltage, as proposed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), and THAT in 2026 the opening follows for low-voltage consumers.

“In 2035, this curve will stop growing because low income, public services and rural [clients] will have more difficulty migrating and will remain in the regulated market,” Mr. Viana said.

Bills in Congress on the modernization of the electric sector and regulations can speed up the migration of consumers, the executive added.

As for businesses, some power trading companies no longer want to only buy and sell energy and are expanding their operations by offering services to consumers and generation companies.

This is the case of 2W. With an eye on the liberalization of the market, the company is increasing the supply of renewable power to sell on the free market with the construction of two wind power farms, and has set aside funds for the acquisition of new customers.

“We see a more liberal market in the second half of this decade. For this, it is key to have generation assets so that we are not in the middle of the chain having to buy power from a generation company to sell it to the customer…We have R$150 million for customer acquisition cost to be able to tap the market and sell electricity from these farms,” CEO Claudio Ribeiro said.

Tradener follows a similar path. The company sells about 800 average megawatts and serves between 20% and 30% of its customer portfolio with its own generation. CEO Walfrido Avila said that the investment relies on better market conditions.

“We have 400 MW of projects, but we will do this in tandem with the economy. The interest rates are very high right now. This is bad for financing and this hinders investments,” he said.

For Alexandre Lopes, vice-president of the Brazilian Association of Power Trading Companies (Abraceel), this is a trend since the sector has been driving competitiveness in companies for more than 20 years and the expansion of the electric system.

“The free market has become the flagship of the expansion of electric power generation in Brazil, responsible for more than 70% of the plants under construction, mainly of renewable origin, aligned with national public policy and the global energy transition.”

Source: Valor International

January 17, 2022

DEVELOPMENT BANK TO INVEST UP TO R$2.5BN IN INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS

The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) will invest up to R$2.5 billion in infrastructure funds, which will be selected through a competitive process. The state-owned bank opens a call for proposals this Monday to choose up to five funds. A maximum of R$500 million will be allocated to each of them. The bank expects, however, to draw at least R$5 billion more from the private sector through the effort.

Asset managers interested in receiving funds will have until March 4 to submit their proposals. The choice will be made by the bank, which will evaluate the fund’s investment thesis, governance and costs, as well as the manager and the team involved. The selection is expected to be concluded by the first half of this year.

It is a new investment mechanism of the bank. “The BNDES’s central objective is to increase its instruments for operating in infrastructure. We already have direct investments, financing, and now we want to allocate resources through funds,” said Bruno Laskowsky, head of shareholding, capital market and indirect credit at BNDES.

The plan is to boost both debt funds, destined to finance projects and companies, and equity funds, which will directly invest in the capital of the businesses. Of the five chosen, up to two will be debt funds and three equity funds.

The BNDES will give priority to investments in basic sanitation and urban mobility, segments that have a greater social impact. There is also a preference for funds from institutional investors (who manage third-party money) and with criteria for measuring social and environmental impact.

Mr. Laskowsky highlights two other focuses sought by the BNDES. The first is “project finance” operations, that is, in which the project is capable of “self-financing,” providing its cash flow as a guarantee. “We want to privilege the risk-taking of the project, and not necessarily the risk of the larger guarantor.”

The second goal is to lengthen the term of the loans. “We are looking for structures that follow the long-term timing of infrastructure projects, which is more like 15, 20 years, while the term of bank loans in general is 7, 8 years,” he said.

For this, the idea is that the funds are closed-end, with a minimum term of eight years, and up to 15 years (equity funds) and 20 years (debt funds), said Filipe Borsato, head of fund investments at BNDES. “The idea is, in the short term, to serve these companies and projects benefited, but also, in the long term, to bring institutional investors to the country and give them more security to put funds into infrastructure projects in Brazil,” he said.

The idea is for the BNDES to be a “relevant minority shareholder” in these funds, and for the allocation decision – that is, which projects or companies will receive the investments – to be made by the private-sector manager, the executives highlight.

“The choice of specific projects will be made by private-sector managers, not by the BNDES. Typically, the term for the allocation of funds is three to six years, so the benefited projects will be structured and selected over the next few years. It is not something thought out for the projects of 2022,” Mr. Borsato said.

For this reason, the fact that the process takes place in an election year will not be a problem, and potential changes in the bank’s direction is not a concern, Mr. Laskowsky said.

“We are talking about 15, 20-year projects. This goes beyond any administration. And the country has a huge gap in infrastructure. The math done when it comes to thinking about investments is: there are people prepared to execute the works, there are good project structurers, there is financing and there is demand. These factors are not trivial. Stability helps a lot, of course, but the central theme here is not electoral volatility,” he said.

As for BNDESPar the move is part of its “capital recycling” process, Mr. Laskowsky said. Since 2019, the development bank’s equity arm has been disposing of its shares in companies such as meatpacker JBS, paper and pulp maker Klabin and mining giant Vale, among others. The idea, the executive said, is to rebuild the portfolio having as guidelines innovation, environmental and social impact.

The investment in infrastructure funds will be a first experience in this investment model, which may be extended to other areas of BNDES’s operations. “This is the first call. We will understand how the process will work out. But one possibility is to give guidance, which could be annual, biannual, or triennial, and the bank will make subsequent calls in different strategic sectors, not just infrastructure,” he said.

Source: Valor International

January 25, 2022

STEEL CONSUMPTION GROWS 23% IN BRAZIL IN 2021

The country’s steel industry ended 2021 with strong growth in volume of crude steel produced, domestic sales and apparent consumption, as expected, despite the sharp deceleration of indicators in the last month of the year. The data are from the Instituto Aço Brasil, which represents steelmakers.

In a year marked by strong domestic demand until July and an increase in exports in the second half of the year, steelmakers in the country produced 36 million tonnes of crude steel, up 14.7% from 2020. In rolled products, the sector reached 26 million tonnes, up 19.3% year over year.

The performance was also robust in domestic sales, which totaled 22.4 million tonnes, up 15% year over year. In the year of the pandemic, the sector was impacted in the second quarter, but saw strong steel sales from July onwards.

Also with a record, since 2013, apparent consumption (local sales plus imports) of steel products totaled 26.4 million tonnes, up 23.2% year over year.

Faced with a heated market and difficulties in meeting all demand from local mills, imports of finished material grew by 144% in the year, totaling 5 million tonnes.

With an increase in steel production and an accommodation of domestic demand – which was supplied from the middle of the year with domestic supply and the entry of foreign material –, exports rose and ended the year up 3.9%, totaling 11 million tonnes. Benefited from higher steel prices in the international market, they generated $9.3 billion.

In December, indicators focused on the domestic market lost steam due to macroeconomic uncertainties as of September: in the production of crude steel (-11.4%), rolled products (-16.8%), domestic sales (-24.7 %) and apparent consumption (-17.3%). Exports, on the other hand, gained momentum, with an expansion of 74.9% —1.3 million tonnes. Imports continued to expand, with 309,000 tonnes (up 49.9%). Sources say there is still a lot of steel in the ports waiting to be cleared.

Source: Valor International

January 25, 2022

BRAZIL CHANGES VISA RULES TO ATTRACT DIGITAL NOMADS

The Brazilian government has amended immigration rules to grant temporary visas to professionals working remotely in a bid to attract well-paid individuals to contribute to the country’s economy.

Announced today (24), the measures establish an initial one-year visa, which can be renewed for an equal period. According to justice secretary and head of the National Immigration Council, José Vicente Santini, the new regulations are expected to boost local tourism and respond to global trends.

“Digital nomads’ salaries come from external sources, and the resources these immigrants bring can boost the national economy. This is an important step for Brazil to promote one of the world’s most modern working models,” he said.

Professionals can apply for the digital nomad visa at any Brazilian consular office, presenting proof of their remote worker status and documents such as an employment contract with an international organization and health insurance and evidence of availability means of subsistence in Brazil.

On the other hand, the increase of Brazilian remote workers taking up jobs with foreign employers has been a concern for the sector. The Federation of Associations of Brazilian Information Technology Companies (Assespro) launched a manifesto today calling for public policies to prevent a “labor blackout” of skilled tech professionals.

According to the trade body, the growing demand for IT experts globally and the acceleration of remote working has contributed to many experienced professionals being hired by companies abroad, without having to emigrate, in a phenomenon described as a “virtual brain drain”.

The association warned that best available estimates indicate that Brazil’s shortage of skilled professionals is expected to grow to 450,000 within three years. It added that the lack of strategies and policies from central government to support innovation and skills creation has been discussed since 2018. Still, the scenario remains unchanged in terms of strategy, while execution has become increasingly unviable due to the various budget cuts suffered by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation in recent years.

Stressing the real possibility that Brazil may lose a significant amount of its technology experts to employers overseas, Assespro urged government leaders to “urgently unite to implement public policies that prevent this catastrophic situation.” It added the issue of skills shortages is the greatest challenge the sector has faced in the trade body’s 45-year history.

“Innovation processes arise from the existence of problems. Given the size of this problem, however, the collective action of all the actors involved is essential”, the manifesto noted.

Source: NewsNow

January 31, 2022

NEW PORTS EXPECT PRIVATE INVESTMENTS OF R$9.5BN

In a new drive of investments in the port sector, at least 30 Private Use Terminal (TUP) projects were authorized in 2021 or are being analyzed by port regulator Antaq for authorization in 2022, unlocking contributions of up to R$9.5 billion.

For the Association of Private Port Terminals (ATP), which carried out the survey based on public calls and publications in the Daily Gazette, this proves the preference of many investors for this type of expansion in the sector.

TUPs are necessarily outside organized ports — those managed by dock companies or by state administrations — and have more flexible regulation than the leases of public areas. In the past decade, they had a 38% growth. Today, they handle about two-thirds of port cargo in Brazil, mainly minerals and fuel.

Among the new projects under analysis with chances of signing contracts with the Ministry of Infrastructure in 2022, are two large undertakings. One is Nordeste Logística, on an 83-hectare plot in Pecém (state of Ceará), with four terminals planned — for ore, grains, fertilizers, and containers. Investments of around R$2.35 billion are expected.

Another project that draws attention in the sector is Porto Guará, neighboring Paranaguá (state of Paraná), whose plan also involves the movement of different types of cargo. The request to Antaq mentions disbursements of R$3.85 billion.

Both have already gone through a public call – a process in which the agency opens a period of 30 days for the manifestation of any interested parties in building a TUP in the same geographic region – and are awaiting authorization. For this, it is necessary to have at least a term of reference issued by federal environmental agency Ibama for the preparation of environmental impact studies and land regularizations, as well as the absence of tax pending issues.

“Investor interest is greater in private terminals than in leases within organized ports,” says ATP president Murillo Barbosa. “No one has to wait for the government’s goodwill to conduct bidding processes. The private terminal has more flexibility. It can choose the location and type of cargo. It does not need to comply with the development and zoning plan of the public port.”

In 2013, with the new Ports Law, the requirement for new private terminals to predominantly handle their own cargo was dropped. Thus, the movement of third-party cargo was allowed. According to Mr. Barbosa, the number of authorized TUPs soared to 253 today from 124 that year.

In the calculations of the Ministry of Infrastructure, which are different from those used by ATP, the number of private terminals currently awaiting authorization reaches 53 projects and provides for investments of R$38.8 billion. “The government is no longer hampering investment. The investor’s challenge becomes environmental licensing and the economic viability of the project. It’s up to him to decide,” says the national secretary of Ports, Diogo Piloni.

In fact, however, many authorized projects die out along the way or remain undefined for years because of environmental restrictions or lack of capital for the works. Projects such as the Alcântara Port Terminal (state of Maranhão), Petrocity (state of Espírito Santo), and Porto Sul de Ilhéus (Bahia) disclose figures of billions of reais, but have not yet considered financing or have not yet obtained a prior environmental license.

For consultant Frederico Bussinger, managing partner at Katalysis consultancy and former president of the Port of São Sebastião, one of the most important factors for the success of a TUP project is the cargo guarantee. Therefore, according to him, terminals associated with the owner’s own production chain tend to start operating more easily. This has been the case, for example, with new facilities for the outflow of grain by groups such as Cargill and Louis Dreyfus, in the so-called Arco Norte.

In Mr. Bussinger’s assessment, the difficulty is significantly greater for structures that intend to move different cargoes that are unrelated to the business itself. There are still few successful cases, such as Porto do Açu (state of Rio de Janeiro) or Portonave (Santa Catarina), in creating private ports that handle third-party containers or cargo. “With a guaranteed cargo, the money appears quickly.”

Given the ease with which Antaq’s approval to build TUPs can be obtained, says Mr. Bussinger, permits often become a kind of “government bond”, and applicants only then go after real investors.

Despite the growth trend of TUPs, companies complain about recent attempts to increase regulation on an activity that is entirely private. A group of industry associations even overturned in court, in 2019, Antaq’s resolution that created a system for monitoring prices charged by its customers’ terminals.

The end of Reporto, a tax regime that made investments in ports and railways cheaper, whose recreation was barred by President Jair Bolsonaro in January, is also much criticized. Murillo Barbosa, with ATP, says that the absence of the benefit makes the value of a portainer (a type of crane used for loading and unloading containers) rise to $15 million from around $11 million.

Even with many advertised terminals having difficulties materializing, Mr. Piloni says that TUPs are already the main growth vector in the sector. “For every R$1 in investments effectively executed in port leases, we had R$3 in private terminals in 2021.

Source: Valor International

ttps://valorinternational.globo.com

31 de janeiro de 2022/por Gelcy Bueno

Murray Notícias

NEWSLETTER – JULY 2021

31 de julho de 2021/por Gelcy Bueno