Brazil

Brazil's economy is the largest economy in Latin America. The most economically developed is the southeastern region, where the main economic centers of the country are located. The South is the main agricultural region of the country. Animal husbandry prevails in the central-western region.

Brazil ranks third in the world in terms of agricultural exports. The share of agricultural products in Brazil's exports reaches almost a third.

Coffee is one of the main exports of Brazil. Brazil also ranks 1st in the world in the production of sugar cane, from which sugar and ethanol are made, used as fuel for cars. Corn, rice, wheat, cocoa beans, cotton and soybeans are also grown. Animal husbandry plays an important role in Brazilian agriculture – cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep are bred. Zebu is bred in almost all states of Brazil.

Brazil's industry employed 14% of the country's working population. The share of industry in GDP is 26.4%.

More than 40 types of minerals are mined in Brazil. The most significant are iron and manganese ores, about 80% are exported. The extraction of zinc, copper and nickel is carried out for the domestic market. Brazil is a supplier of strategic raw materials: tungsten, niobium, zirconium, mica, etc. In the 1970s, significant reserves of gold were found in the Amazon, now its production is approximately 80 tons per year. Brazil occupies one of the first places in the world for the extraction of bauxite.

The manufacturing industry accounts for over a quarter of GDP. The main industries are oil refining and chemical industry.

Brazil is the largest (after the USA) producer of bioethanol. Ethanol provides about 30% of the country's fuel needs. The raw material for the production of ethanol is sugar cane.

Brazil produces more than 1.5 million cars annually. Brazil is one of the leaders of the global passenger aircraft market.

The textile industry is the main branch of Brazil's light industry. Brazil ranks 6-7 in the world in the production of textile products. 80% of the cotton in Brazil is imported from abroad. The shoe industry is well developed.

The total proven (recoverable) energy reserves of Brazil are estimated at 6.4 billion tons (in coal equivalent), including: crude oil — 2.8 billion here, natural gas — 0.5 billion here and coal — 3.1 billion here. At the same time, Brazil is among the TOP-5 largest countries in the world in terms of hydropower potential, occupying the 4th position.

Brazil's service sector employed 71% of the country's working population.

Brazil is an active participant in world trade. Most of all, the country exported oilseeds and fruits. The second place in terms of exports was occupied by ore: it accounted for 10.3% of total exports. The most significant are iron and manganese ores. Mineral fuel closes the top three export leaders.

The main share of all products imported to Brazil is machinery and equipment (14% of total imports), mineral fuel (13%) and electrical equipment (11% of total).

The bulk (21%) of exports of goods from Brazil in 2017 were sent to China. Other important areas of export of goods from Brazil in 2017 were: the USA, Argentina, the Netherlands.

The main part (18.1%) of imports of goods to Brazil in 2017 was sent from China. Other important sources of imports of goods to Brazil in 2017 were: USA, Argentina, Germany.

In the sphere of transport services, sea transport had the greatest weight. In 2017, the number of functioning seaports receiving cargo ships in Brazil amounted to 15 pcs. The ports are mainly located along the Atlantic coast.