Photo: screengrab from the official website of Brasil 247

By Brasil 247 - Brazil's Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, said on Monday that the country is expected to reach a new record in exports in 2025, even as the global economy shows signs of slower growth. He made the remarks in Brasília during the inauguration of the new headquarters of ApexBrasil, the country's trade and investment promotion agency.

According to Alckmin, Brazil's foreign trade performance is set to remain strong despite external headwinds. "Even with the world growing less, we should break records with $345 billion in exports and $629 billion in total trade flow," the vice president said, according to Brasil 247. He stressed that openness to international trade is essential for sustainable development. "There is no country in the world that has achieved strong and lasting growth without opening itself to the world and prioritizing foreign trade," he added.

Alckmin emphasized that Brazil's tax reform will play a structural role in boosting exports in the coming years. He said the new system will fully exempt exports from taxation by ending the cumulative credit model. "It will completely relieve exports, putting an end to credit accumulation," he said.

Citing technical studies, the minister highlighted the potential impact of the reform. "A study by IPEA shows that Brazilian exports could grow by 17% after the full implementation of the tax reform," Alckmin stated.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who also attended the event, underscored the importance of balanced international trade relations. He said foreign trade should not be viewed as a one-way street focused only on selling Brazilian products. "When we arrive in a country, we cannot just talk about what we have to sell. It is also important to see what they have to sell," Lula said.

The ceremony also marked the celebration of the opening of 500 new international markets for Brazilian products over the past three years, particularly in agribusiness. The expansion resulted from coordinated efforts by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and ApexBrasil.

According to data presented at the event, the newly opened markets span more than 80 countries and could generate up to $33 billion in additional Brazilian exports over the next five years.

In addition to highlighting trade results, the event officially inaugurated ApexBrasil's new headquarters in Brasília. The building includes an auditorium, exhibition hall, café, and restaurant focused on promoting Brazilian cuisine, reinforcing the agency's role in projecting Brazilian products and the country's image abroad.

(Reported by Brasil 247 on December 16, 2025)