How to Export from Bangladesh to Brazil in 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide for Bangladeshi Exporters
Md. Joynal Abdin
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB)
Executive Director, Online Training Academy (OTA)
Secretary General, Brazil Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BBCCI)
Brazil has emerged as one of Bangladesh’s fastest-growing non-traditional export destinations, with Bangladeshi shipments reaching approximately USD 187 million in FY 2024–25, reflecting a strong 26 percent year-on-year rise. At the same time, Brazil exported nearly USD 2.47 billion to Bangladesh in 2024, driven mainly by raw cotton, sugar, and soybeans inputs vital for Bangladesh’s textile and agro-processing industries. This widening trade corridor highlights both the scale of untapped opportunity and the need for Bangladeshi exporters to understand the regulatory, logistical and commercial landscape of Latin America’s largest economy.
Exporting to Brazil requires careful preparation, because the country maintains one of the world’s most detailed import regulatory systems. The procedures are not obstacles; rather, they are frameworks designed to ensure product quality, consumer safety and fiscal compliance. The following step-by-step explanatory guide outlines everything a Bangladeshi exporter must know—from understanding tariffs to securing proper documentation, aligning with Brazilian regulations, and identifying sectors where Bangladesh can succeed.
Understanding the Market and the Trade Environment
Brazil is home to more than 200 million consumers and possesses the region’s largest industrial base. Even in years when its GDP growth slows, its import demand remains resilient; for example, Brazilian imports increased by nearly 9 percent in 2024, reflecting strong demand for both consumer goods and industrial inputs. For Bangladeshi manufacturers particularly those in garments, home textiles, leather goods, ceramics, and food items this means a sizeable, stable and increasingly diversified market.
Trade relations between Bangladesh and Brazil have strengthened steadily. The two governments have already initiated discussions on a long-term trade framework, including a possible Preferential Trade Agreement between MERCOSUR and Bangladesh. If successful, this could reduce tariffs and increase Bangladesh’s competitiveness in the Brazilian market. Entering Brazil now allows Bangladeshi exporters to position themselves early before the possible tariff advantages attract even stronger competition.
Step 1: Preparing the Exporting Business in Bangladesh
The first step for any Bangladeshi exporter is to ensure that the company is legally and operationally prepared. A valid trade licence, TIN, BIN registration and—where applicable—RJSC incorporation are essential. The Export Registration Certificate (ERC), issued by the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports, is mandatory before any export activity can begin. Banks will require the ERC to open export LCs or process export-related transactions. Exporters should also maintain membership in sectoral associations such as BGMEA, BKMEA, EPB-listed bodies, or chambers of commerce, since these institutions offer valuable market insights, references, and credibility when dealing with Brazilian partners.
Production quality is critical. Brazilian buyers expect consistent quality, sustainability standards, and factory compliance aligned with global norms. For many sectors—especially garments, leather goods and pharmaceuticals Bangladeshi exporters are already technologically capable, but must ensure that documentation, testing standards, product safety and ESG requirements match Brazil’s expectations.
Step 2: Identifying the Product and Aligning HS Codes with Brazil’s NCM System
Every export begins with accurate product classification. Bangladesh uses the Harmonized System (HS), while Brazil follows the Mercosul Common Nomenclature (NCM), an expanded eight-digit system closely aligned with HS but more specific. This NCM code determines applicable taxes, regulatory approvals and customs procedures in Brazil.
For example, apparel items exported from Bangladesh typically face an effective import duty of around 25 percent, along with additional Brazilian taxes that can significantly influence the final consumer price. Brazil’s import system calculates taxes cumulatively: import duty (II) is applied first, followed by IPI (a federal excise tax), PIS-Import and COFINS-Import (social contribution taxes), and finally ICMS, a state-level VAT that often ranges between 17 and 19 percent. Because ICMS is calculated on a tax-inclusive base, it can significantly raise the landed cost. Understanding the NCM code, therefore, allows Bangladeshi exporters to price competitively while maintaining profitability.
Step 3: Identifying and Engaging a Brazilian Importer or Distributor
Unlike some markets where exporters can directly deliver to warehouses or online platforms, Brazil requires that a properly registered Brazilian entity act as the importer of record. This importer must have a RADAR licence that authorizes access to the national foreign trade system—now transitioning to the new Single Foreign Trade Portal (DUIMP). Without RADAR access, the Brazilian partner cannot receive goods at customs.
Finding the right importer or distributor often requires extensive research. Participation in B2B meetings, networking through chambers like BBCCI or FBCCI, and consultations with the Embassy of Brazil in Dhaka can be valuable. Bangladeshi exporters should evaluate a Brazilian partner’s financial capacity, distribution channels, technical knowledge, and regulatory preparedness especially for sectors like food, cosmetics or medical devices, which require specialised approvals.
Step 4: Negotiating Price, Payment Terms and INCOTERMS
Once a partner is identified, the exporter and importer must jointly calculate the expected landed cost in Brazil. This is crucial because Brazil’s layered tax system means that even competitively priced Bangladeshi products may become expensive at retail if tax planning is incomplete.
INCOTERMS such as FOB Chattogram, CFR Santos, or CIF Rio de Janeiro should be selected based on the product type, risk exposure and cost structure. While letters of credit remain common for first-time transactions, experienced exporters may gradually shift to documentary collections or even open account terms supported by export credit insurance. The goal is to balance security with competitiveness, as Brazilian companies often prefer flexible terms once trust is established.
Step 5: Meeting Brazilian Regulatory Requirements (ANVISA, MAPA, INMETRO)
Brazil maintains rigorous regulatory oversight, and exporters must understand which agency governs their product. Goods such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medical devices and certain foods fall under ANVISA, the national health surveillance authority. These products must undergo pre-registration or approval, and the importer must submit an import licence request before the goods are shipped. Packaging and labelling must be in Portuguese and comply with ANVISA’s evolving rules; certain cosmetic ingredients, for example, will be prohibited from early 2026.
Agricultural and animal-origin food products are regulated by MAPA, which requires health certificates issued by authorized Bangladeshi agencies and may impose plant-level approval for certain exporters.
Electronics, automotive components, children’s products and various household items may require INMETRO certification, ensuring conformity with Brazilian technical standards. These approvals often take several weeks or months, so exporters planning to enter Brazil in 2026 should initiate regulatory reviews immediately.
Step 6: Preparing Export Documents in Bangladesh
Accurate and consistent documentation is essential for avoiding delays at Brazilian customs. The exporter must issue the commercial invoice and packing list, prepare the sales contract or comply with L/C requirements, and submit the EXP form through the exporting bank. The shipping line or airline issues the bill of lading or airway bill, and the exporter must obtain the certificate of origin from EPB or an authorized chamber.
For certain categories, Brazil may also require consular legalization of documents by the Embassy of Brazil in Dhaka. Any discrepancy among documents description, quantity, value or HS code may trigger a customs inspection, raising cost and time. Exporters should adopt a rigorous document verification process before shipment.
Step 7: Shipping the Goods and Coordinating Brazilian Customs Clearance
Once the shipment leaves Bangladesh, the exporter’s responsibility shifts toward coordination and monitoring. Sea shipments from Chattogram to Brazilian ports such as Santos, Rio de Janeiro or Itajaí generally take 35 to 42 days, depending on transshipment routes. Air shipments arrive much faster, typically within 48 hours via Middle Eastern hubs, but costs are substantially higher.
Upon arrival, the Brazilian importer uses DUIMP to submit the import declaration, attaches relevant regulatory approvals, and pays applicable import taxes. Brazil uses a channel-based customs clearance system: green channel indicates automatic clearance, yellow requires document review, red requires physical inspection, and grey involves valuation audits. Efficient clearance depends heavily on accurate documentation and advance regulatory compliance.
Step 8: Post-Clearance Marketing, Branding and Long-Term Relationships
Brazil rewards exporters who invest in local market understanding. Portuguese-language catalogues, after-sales assistance, and locally tailored packaging can significantly improve market penetration. As trade volumes grow, exporters may consider establishing local warehouses, stock-and-sale models, or exclusive distribution partnerships to reduce delivery time and build brand reliability.
Bangladeshi exporters should also monitor developing trade policies, especially the MERCOSUR–Bangladesh negotiations, as tariff concessions in the coming years could dramatically improve the competitiveness of apparel, home textiles, jute goods, ceramics and pharmaceuticals.
Key Product Opportunities for Bangladesh in Brazil
Brazil’s growing middle class and diverse industrial sector create broad opportunities for Bangladeshi exporters. Ready-made garments remain Bangladesh’s strongest category, supported by large-scale production capabilities and rising consumer demand in Brazil for affordable fashion, sportswear and sustainable cotton garments. Home textiles also offer strong prospects, particularly bed linens, towels and curtains.
Jute products appeal to Brazil’s sustainability movement, while leather goods, footwear, ceramics and melamine wares have large potential due to affordability and rising household consumption. Sectors requiring regulatory approvals such as pharmaceuticals, medical disposables and processed foods offer high-value opportunities for exporters prepared to comply with ANVISA or MAPA protocols.
Products Brazil Exports to Bangladesh and Areas for Counter-Trade
Brazil’s exports to Bangladesh are dominated by raw sugar, cotton, soybeans and corn commodities essential for Bangladesh’s food security and textile value chain. Other notable exports include iron, steel, machinery and agricultural inputs. Understanding these flows helps Bangladeshi exporters develop counter-trade arrangements, joint ventures or integrated sourcing strategies that strengthen long-term business relationships.
Conclusion
Exporting from Bangladesh to Brazil in 2026 demands careful preparation, but the rewards are significant. With bilateral trade expanding rapidly, Brazil’s vast consumer market offers substantial room for Bangladeshi goods from garments and textiles to jute, ceramics, pharmaceuticals and processed foods. Success requires understanding the NCM-based tariff system, complying with regulatory frameworks such as ANVISA, MAPA and INMETRO, and working with well-equipped Brazilian importers who possess RADAR access and technical expertise.
By following this step-by-step, explanatory approach building internal export readiness, selecting products strategically, aligning regulations early, preparing flawless documentation and nurturing strong partnerships Bangladeshi exporters can enter Brazil confidently and sustainably. With the growing momentum toward a MERCOSUR–Bangladesh trade arrangement, early movers in 2026 will be best positioned to benefit from future tariff advantages and expanded market access.