Country Guide
Exporting from Saudi Arabia to Brazil
Brazil's 14th largest import origin. Crude oil, petrochemicals, and fertilizers — sectors with strategically low tariff barriers.
Updated May 2026
Saudi Arabia is one of Brazil's key energy and petrochemical suppliers. Trade is heavily concentrated in crude oil and downstream petroleum products, complemented by growing fertilizer exports. Brazil-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) trade talks have been ongoing but no comprehensive FTA exists. Saudi goods pay MFN tariffs — though most energy products already face minimal duties.
No preferential trade agreement
Saudi Arabia has no FTA with Brazil or Mercosur. GCC-Mercosur FTA negotiations have been ongoing since 2005. Saudi goods pay full TEC rates, but most exports (petroleum, fertilizers) face 0-6% duties by default.
Key concepts
?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 guideTrade Data: Saudi Arabia → Brazil
Source: UN Comtrade 2023Top Saudi exports to Brazil by value
2023 FOB values in USD| # | Product | 2023 Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3105.40Fertilizers, mineral or chemical; ammonium dihydrogenorthophosphate (monoammoniu... | $418.5M | Duties → |
| 2 | 3902.10Propylene, other olefin polymers; polypropylene in primary forms | $161.0M | Duties → |
| 3 | 3102.10Fertilizers, mineral or chemical; nitrogenous, urea, whether or not in aqueous s... | $80.9M | Duties → |
| 4 | 3105.30Fertilizers, mineral or chemical; diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate (diammonium ... | $61.9M | Duties → |
| 5 | 2802.00Sulphur; sublimed or precipitated, colloidal sulphur | $31.2M | Duties → |
| 6 | 3901.20Ethylene polymers; in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0... | $16.3M | Duties → |
| 7 | 2815.12Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda); in aqueous solution (soda lye or liquid soda) | $16.2M | Duties → |
| 8 | 3901.10Ethylene polymers; in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of l... | $15.1M | Duties → |
| 9 | 7601.20Aluminium; unwrought, alloys | $6.2M | Duties → |
| 10 | 3901.30Ethylene polymers; in primary forms, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers | $5.8M | Duties → |
| 11 | 3903.30Styrene polymers; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers, in primary f... | $5.3M | Duties → |
| 12 | 2503.00Sulphur of all kinds; other than sublimed, precipitated and colloidal sulphur | $5.2M | Duties → |
| 13 | 2523.10Cement clinkers (whether or not coloured) | $5.2M | Duties → |
| 14 | 4002.20Rubber; synthetic, butadiene rubber (BR), in primary forms or in plates, sheets ... | $3.0M | Duties → |
| 15 | 0207.14Meat and edible offal; of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, cuts and offal... | $2.3M | Duties → |
| 16 | 7601.10Aluminium; unwrought, (not alloyed) | $2.0M | Duties → |
| 17 | 3907.40Polycarbonates; in primary forms | $2.0M | Duties → |
| 18 | 3907.30Epoxide resins; in primary forms | $1.9M | Duties → |
| 19 | 7013.10Glassware; of a kind used for table, kitchen, toilet, office, indoor decoration ... | $1.7M | Duties → |
| 20 | 0202.30Meat; of bovine animals, boneless cuts, frozen | $1.1M | Duties → |
Values in USD, FOB (Saudi Arabia port of departure). Trend compares 2023 vs 2022. Click any HS code for Brazil duty rates and Ex-Tarifário status.
Key product categories and tariff strategy
| Product | Import duty | Key consideration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude oil & fuels Crude petroleum, diesel, naphtha | 0-6% | ANP license | View HS 27 → |
| Fertilizers DAP, urea, ammonium phosphate | 0-6% | Strategic supply | View HS 31 → |
| Plastics Polypropylene, polyethylene, copolymers | 14% | Anti-dumping possible | View HS 39 → |
| Organic chemicals Para-xylene, ethylene glycol | 0-14% | Competitive pricing | View HS 29 → |
| Sulfur & minerals Sulfur, gypsum | 0-4% | Low duty | View HS 25 → |
| Inorganic chemicals Alumina, sodium hydroxide | 0-14% | Industrial use | View HS 28 → |
Crude oil and refined products
Despite being a major oil producer (pre-salt), Brazil still imports crude oil and refined products to balance its refinery mix:
- Crude oil (HS 2709): over $4B annually — Saudi Arabia is among Brazil's top 3 crude suppliers
- Diesel and naphtha: seasonal imports to cover domestic demand peaks
- ANP authorization: all petroleum imports require Agência Nacional do Petróleo licensing
- Low tariffs: petroleum products face 0-6% import duty
Petrochemicals: downstream integration
Saudi Arabia's SABIC and other petrochemical producers are competitive suppliers to Brazil's plastics industry:
- Polypropylene (HS 3902): competes with Braskem's domestic production. 14% duty
- Polyethylene (HS 3901): LDPE and HDPE for packaging
- Para-xylene (HS 2902): feedstock for PET production
- Anti-dumping risk: some polymer products face anti-dumping investigations when priced below Braskem's domestic cost
Fertilizers: diversification play
Saudi Arabia is an increasingly important fertilizer supplier as Brazil diversifies away from Russian dependence:
- Urea (HS 3102): SABIC-produced urea for nitrogen fertilization
- DAP/MAP (HS 3105): phosphate fertilizers from Ma'aden
- 0-6% duty: fertilizers are strategically low-tariff
Regulatory requirements
- ANP — all petroleum products require ANP authorization
- IBAMA — environmental licensing for certain chemicals
- MAPA — fertilizer registration and quality control
- INMETRO — plastics for consumer use may require certification
Practical next steps
- Find your product's NCM code
- Check ANP/IBAMA licensing requirements
- Calculate the full landed cost including all 7 Brazilian taxes
- Verify anti-dumping exposure for polymer products