Brazilian Imports of Plastics & Chems: What Data Reveals About Demand

The difference between making decisions based on instinct and letting evidence guide you becomes clear when markets change speed. In foreign trade, this is even more pronounced: volumes, origins, ports, and cargo composition function as objective indicators of demand, cost, and risk. That is why analyzing import and export data helps companies understand what is happening before shifts become headlines — and, more importantly, before they become problems.

Year-to-date, Brazilian imports continue to expand. Data from Datamar’s DataLiner platform shows total containerized imports reaching 3,521,432 TEUs, up 4.4% compared to 3,373,990 TEUs in the same period last year.

Chart 1 – Containerized Import Data | Jan 2022 – Dec 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Within this broader flow, plastics and chemicals serve as sensitive indicators of industrial activity. These are essential inputs used in packaging production, manufacturing, agribusiness applications, and a wide range of industrial segments. Because they sit at the beginning of multiple supply chains, any acceleration or slowdown in economic activity tends to appear first in demand for these products, whether driven by changes in production levels, cost structures, or trade regulations.

One of the most striking features in the import data is concentration, both in terms of suppliers and entry gateways. By country of origin, China leads with 1,745,546 TEUs and a 50% share year to date, posting 6.2% growth compared to the previous year. The United States ranks second with 308,696 TEUs, down 5.3% and accounting for 9% of total imports. India and Germany follow, each with approximately 4%.

On the Brazilian side, the pattern is similarly concentrated. The Port of Santos alone handled 1,513,495 TEUs, representing 43% of total imports, followed by Itapoá (424,047 TEUs; 12%), Navegantes (376,257 TEUs; 11%), and Paranaguá (322,682 TEUs; 9%).

This configuration limits logistical flexibility when disruptions occur on major routes, whether due to service realignments, operational pressure, or cost volatility. When most trade flows move through a handful of corridors and ports, any disruption tends to ripple through lead times, inventories, and supply predictability. This is particularly critical for industrial inputs, where production downtime carries direct financial consequences.

Against this backdrop, the plastics segment deserves closer attention. DataLiner reports 456,990 TEUs of plastics imported year-to-date, up 3.5% compared to the previous period. The mix is dominated by resins and semi-finished products: polymers of ethylene account for 33.71% of the segment, followed by polymers of propylene (11.27%) and polymers of vinyl chloride (PVC) at 10.99%.

Table 1 – Main Imported Plastic Categories | Jan–Dec 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

In a country where packaging, construction, auto parts, and consumer goods industries compete for input capacity and pricing, this composition suggests demand that goes beyond simple restocking and reflects ongoing production momentum.

More than volume alone, however, the supplier map tells a deeper story. The United States remains the leading origin of plastics in this segment, with a 30.26% share, but shipments declined 11.8% year over year. China increased its share to 23.55%, while Colombia posted 25% growth and reached 9%.

This shift coincides with Brazil’s approval of temporary import tariff increases on several chemical and polymer products. In September 2024, Gecex raised import duties on resins such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and PVC from ranges between 7.2% and 12.6% to as high as 20%. The measure took effect in October 2024 with an initial 12-month term and was later extended through 2026. In a market of largely standardized polymers, even small differences in total landed cost — factoring in tariffs, freight, and delivery time — can quickly influence sourcing decisions. Regulatory changes, therefore, have the potential to alter the relative competitiveness of suppliers.

The chemical segment presents a similar pattern in some respects, but with important differences. DataLiner records 41,391 TEUs of chemical imports year-to-date, reflecting 1% growth compared to last year. Growth is modest, yet the product composition provides insight into demand dynamics.

Prepared binders for foundry molds and related applications account for 35.25% of total chemical imports, followed by fatty acids and derivatives (12.55%) and antiknock preparations (12.41%).

Table 2 – Main Imported Chemical Products

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

At the same time, supplier shares again signal adjustment. The United States leads with a 22.50% share but declined 4.2% year over year. China grew 28.3%, reaching 18.93%, while Germany stands at 6.23%, down 4.5%.

When total volume changes little but supplier shares shift significantly, it typically indicates that demand remains active while buyers recalibrate sourcing strategies to secure better pricing and availability. In chemicals, this dynamic can be even more pronounced because switching suppliers often does not affect the final product, provided technical specifications and regulatory requirements are met. This tends to increase price competition in more standardized categories.

This sectoral landscape unfolds within a trade policy environment that has become more interventionist. Temporary tariff realignments and trade defense measures can reshape the economics of specific inputs, accelerating sourcing adjustments, front-loaded purchases, and inventory strategy changes.

That is what the data show on the import side. On the export side, however, the picture also provides important signals about Brazil’s real economy and where the country is gaining traction in value-added segments.

In 2025, Brazilian containerized exports totaled 3,248,924 TEUs, up 2% compared to 2024. Although moderate, this growth is notable given a more restrictive global environment and was largely supported by industrialized agribusiness cargoes and higher value-added products. The meat complex led the export agenda with 728,714 TEUs, up 6.1%, reinforcing Brazil’s competitiveness in animal protein. Cotton (+2.8%), pulp (+3.7%), paper (+3%), plastics (+4.4%), and tobacco (+17.9%) also posted gains.

Chart 2 – Containerized Export Data | Jan 2022 – Dec 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

One of the most striking movements in 2025 was the sharp expansion of vegetable products, which totaled 93,040 TEUs, up 57.6%. Within this group, sesame stood out with 85.8% growth, with China as the primary destination, followed by India — a clear signal of Brazil’s deeper penetration into specialized Asian market niches. Peanuts (+41.8%) and green beans (+58.4%) further reinforced this trend, highlighting diversification within the agricultural export basket and expansion into higher-value markets.

Chart 3 - Top Plant-Based Export Commodities | Jan - Dec 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

In summary, the data points to an import market that is growing in volume while reconfiguring by origin in sensitive segments such as plastics and chemicals, against a backdrop of logistical concentration and a more active trade policy environment. On the export side, containerized flows show moderate growth, led by the meat complex and supported by agricultural diversification into Asian markets, signaling opportunities in increasingly specialized and value-added segments.

Learn more about the data source and analytical tools that support this type of market intelligence at DataLiner by Datamar: https://www.datamar.com/en/products/dataliner