Country Guide
Exporting from Germany to Brazil
EU-Mercosur tariff phase-outs, Ex-Tarifário for machinery, and how German exporters can maximize the new trade agreement.
EU-Mercosur: in force since May 2026Germany is the largest EU exporter to Brazil and the 4th largest overall, with bilateral trade exceeding EUR 20 billion annually. The EU-Mercosur agreement, effective since May 2026, gives German companies a structural advantage over non-EU competitors — tariffs that took decades to negotiate are now being eliminated.
Your EU advantage
As an EU exporter, you benefit from the EU-Mercosur agreement: tariff elimination on 91% of goods over 10-15 years. Your American, Chinese, and Japanese competitors don't have this. Combined with Ex-Tarifário (immediate 0% on capital goods), German machinery can enter Brazil at zero duty while competitors pay 14-18%.
Trade Data: Germany → Brazil
Source: UN Comtrade 2023Top German exports to Brazil by value
2023 FOB values in USD| # | Product | 2023 Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3004.90Medicaments; consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004,... | $502.3M | Duties → |
| 2 | 3002.41Vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excluding yeasts) and similar pro... | $408.0M | Duties → |
| 3 | 2933.19Heterocyclic compounds; with nitrogen hetero-atom(s) only, containing an unfused... | $374.0M | Duties → |
| 4 | 7304.19Iron or steel (excluding cast iron or stainless steel); seamless, line pipe of a... | $309.4M | Duties → |
| 5 | 3104.20Fertilizers, mineral or chemical; potassic, potassium chloride | $301.5M | Duties → |
| 6 | 2933.99Heterocyclic compounds; n.e.c. in headings no. 2933 | $280.9M | Duties → |
| 7 | 7110.21Metals; palladium, unwrought or in powder form | $252.5M | Duties → |
| 8 | 8703.23Vehicles; with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engi... | $228.6M | Duties → |
| 9 | 8537.10Boards, panels, consoles, desks and other bases; for electric control or the dis... | $217.3M | Duties → |
| 10 | 8708.99Vehicle parts and accessories; n.e.c. in heading no. 8708 | $182.5M | Duties → |
| 11 | 3002.15Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological produc... | $181.3M | Duties → |
| 12 | 8703.60Vehicles; with both spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engi... | $157.7M | Duties → |
| 13 | 8708.40Vehicle parts; gear boxes and parts thereof | $150.8M | Duties → |
| 14 | 8479.89Machines and mechanical appliances; having individual functions, n.e.c. or inclu... | $144.9M | Duties → |
| 15 | 8708.29Vehicles; parts and accessories, of bodies, other than safety seat belts | $134.9M | Duties → |
| 16 | 8409.99Engines; parts for internal combustion piston engines (excluding spark-ignition) | $134.9M | Duties → |
| 17 | 2934.99Nucleic acids and their salts, other heterocyclic compounds, n.e.c. in heading n... | $132.9M | Duties → |
| 18 | 8703.80Vehicles; with only electric motor for propulsion | $123.5M | Duties → |
| 19 | 3822.19Reagents; diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, prepared diagnostic or... | $122.0M | Duties → |
| 20 | 8703.24Vehicles; with only spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engi... | $110.8M | Duties → |
Values in USD, FOB (Germany port of departure). Trend compares 2023 vs 2022. Click any HS code for Brazil duty rates and Ex-Tarifário status.
?What is an NCM code?
NCM (Nomenclatura Comum do Mercosul) is Brazil's 8-digit tariff classification code. The first 6 digits match the international HS (Harmonized System) code — the remaining 2 are Mercosur-specific. Every import tax rate in Brazil is determined by the NCM code.
HS → NCM lookup tool?What is a CNPJ?
CNPJ (Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Jurídica) is Brazil's national business registry number — equivalent to an EIN (US), Company Number (UK), or Handelsregisternummer (Germany). Every company that imports into Brazil must have a CNPJ.
CNPJ registration guide?What is RADAR?
RADAR (Registro e Rastreamento da Atuação dos Intervenientes Aduaneiros) is Receita Federal's mandatory import/export authorization. Your Brazilian buyer needs active RADAR before any goods can clear customs. It comes in three modalities with different value limits.
RADAR & customs clearance guideKey product categories and tariff strategy
| Product | Current duty | EU-Mercosur | Ex-Tarifário? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machinery & equipment CNC machines, turbines, pumps, compressors | 14% | 0% by 2036 | Many qualify | View HS 84 → |
| Vehicles & parts Cars, trucks, auto parts, transmissions | 35% | 0% by 2041 (TRQ) | Parts only | View HS 87 → |
| Electrical equipment Motors, transformers, power electronics | 14-18% | 0% by 2036 | IT/telecom qualify | View HS 85 → |
| Pharmaceuticals Branded drugs, biologics, APIs | 0-8% | Already low | No | View HS 30 → |
| Instruments & apparatus Medical devices, lab equipment, optical | 14-18% | 0% by 2036 | Many qualify | View HS 90 → |
| Organic chemicals Specialty chemicals, intermediates | 0-14% | 0% by 2033 | No | View HS 29 → |
| Chemical products Catalysts, adhesives, industrial chemicals | 2-18% | 0% by 2033 | No | View HS 38 → |
| Plastics Engineering plastics, polymers, resins | 14-18% | 0% by 2033 | No | View HS 39 → |
The German-Brazil trade relationship
Over 1,600 German companies operate in Brazil, making it the largest German business community in Latin America. Key facts:
- AHK São Paulo (German-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce) is the largest bilateral chamber in the world with 5,000+ members
- Germany is Brazil's largest European trading partner and 4th globally (after China, US, Argentina)
- Key sectors: automotive (VW, BMW, Mercedes, Bosch), chemicals (BASF, Bayer), machinery (Siemens, Trumpf, DMG Mori)
- Many German Mittelstand companies already export to Brazil through distributors — the opportunity is in optimizing the import structure
EU-Mercosur: what changes for German exporters
The agreement eliminates tariffs progressively. For the products Germany exports most:
- Machinery (HS 84): 93% of tariff lines reach 0% within 10 years. Current 14% duty phasing out.
- Vehicles (HS 87): 15-year phase-out + TRQ of 50,000 units. The slowest sector but still a massive improvement from 35% flat.
- Chemicals (HS 28-38): 7-year phase-out for most industrial chemicals.
- Instruments (HS 90): 10-year phase-out. Medical devices benefit from GMP mutual recognition provisions.
Certificate of Origin required. To claim EU-Mercosur preferential rates, you need a Certificate of Origin from your local IHK or a self-declaration as an authorized exporter.
Ex-Tarifário: immediate zero duty
Don't wait 10 years for EU-Mercosur phase-in. If your product is capital goods or IT equipment with no Brazilian equivalent, Ex-Tarifário provides 0% duty right now.
German products most likely to qualify:
- CNC machine tools, laser cutting systems, industrial robots
- Medical and laboratory instruments
- Industrial automation equipment
- Specialized printing and packaging machinery
- Precision measuring and testing equipment
MAPA-authorized establishments
Source: SIGSIF/DIPOA408 German facilities are authorized by Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture to export animal products.
Regulatory requirements
German products commonly affected:
- ANVISA — pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics. EU-Mercosur includes GMP mutual recognition, which may speed up the process.
- INMETRO — electrical equipment, automotive parts, toys. CE marking does NOT replace INMETRO — separate certification required.
- Anatel — any device with wireless connectivity (IoT, telecom, industrial sensors with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth)
Practical next steps
- Find your product's NCM code — enter your German Warentarifnummer or HS code
- Check Ex-Tarifário status — see if your product already has zero duty
- Calculate the full landed cost — all 7 Brazilian taxes included
- Contact your IHK about the EU-Mercosur Certificate of Origin process
- Connect with AHK São Paulo for Brazilian market entry support