China was the largest importer of five of the top 10 products exported by Brazil in 2018, according to data released in Brasilia by the Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services.

In the year under review, China overtook all other countries in the import of soybeans, crude oils, iron ore and concentrates, cellulose and beef, and in second place came Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China next to Macau.

In 2018, China acquired 82.38% of all soybeans exported by Brazil, having spent more than US$27.34 billion out of a total of US$33.19 billion.

China bought 57.04% of all Brazil’s exported crude oil products, paying Brazilian companies US$14.33 billion out of a total of US$25.13 billion.

In the case of iron ores and concentrates, China accounted for more than half of Brazil’s exports, with a share of 54.06%, or US$10.92 billion.

In cellulose, China was slightly below half the exports, with a share of 42.38% and a value of US$3.538 billion.

The last of the 10 products in which China surpassed all other countries was frozen, fresh or chilled beef, with a share of 27.24% and US$1.486 billion, with Hong Kong in second with 19.43% and US$1.060 billion.

In the case of frozen, fresh or chilled chicken meat including offal, China is second only to Saudi Arabia (13.66%), with a share of Brazil’s exports of 13.59%.