6 Imported Food and Beverages With Great Potential in Brazil
Many industrialized items consumed in Brazil are primarily imported, either for its quality or because the internal offer is not large enough. This article will show some examples of these types of products.
Brazil’s geographic and economic conditions allow for great diversity of materials and industries, making it possible to find an increasing variety of products on the shelves of supermarkets and stores.
The list below shows some of the products that have an interesting demand in the country, but have a limited local production.
1) Wine
Approximately 78% of all wine consumed in Brazil is locally produced. However, this number also involves cheaper wines, which are lower in quality and sold at cheaper prices. When fine wines are analyzed, it is possible to perceive that most of them - almost 80% - come from other countries.
Primarily the imports are from Chile, Argentina, Italy, France, and Portugal. The main reason for this preference for imported fine wines is the quality and diversity of grapes, a factor which is lacking in Brazil.
2) Dried Fruits and Nuts
The consumption of this type of food in Brazil was initially associated with special occasions - such as New Year’s Eve and Christmas, but sales of this item have continually grown with demand throughout the year. According to entities like IBRAF, the Brazilian Fruit Institute, almost all of the dried fruits consumed in the country are imported, with the exception of banana and tomato.
The most popular imported dried fruits and nuts are grapes, plum, as well as walnuts and almonds. Other varieties, such as cashew nuts and, of course, Brazil nuts, are produced locally.
3) Olive Oil
Brazil is the third largest importer of olive oil in the world. This is mainly because local production is basically artisanal. According to the International Olive Council (IOC), Brazil has an annual consumption of 72,000 tons, and is one of the main targets for oil producers, along with China, Russia and the United States. The largest suppliers for Brazil are Portugal and Italy.
4) Beer
Beer is the favorite alcoholic beverage of Brazilians, along with the typical cachaça. The consumption and sale of imported beer has seen little growth, mainly because the class C Brazilian population are not very inclined to spend money on more expensive, non-essential goods.
However, premium imported beers are gaining more space in the Brazilian market, with sales keeping a two-digit growth over the past few years. This is why bars, restaurants, supermarkets and specialized stores are selling canned and bottled beer from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Uruguay, Denmark, and other nations.
5) Frozen Fish
Brazilian supermarkets have been betting on this product due to the relatively low storage costs and longer shelf life. Traditionally Brazil imports huge amounts of fish like salmon and cod from Chile and Norway, but other countries like China and Vietnam have also become important suppliers. In some supermarket chains, imported frozen fish is responsible for almost 60% of fish sales. It is difficult to get a local permit to farm fish which is a main factor in boosting imports, since this is an important limitation for the local supply.
6) Peaches In Syrup
This might be specific, but imported peaches in syrup have a wide advantage over the local ones. Although this product cannot be considered one of the most consumed items in Brazil, the local industry of peaches in syrup is almost nonexistent - there are less than 15 companies in Brazil that deal with this item. Many supermarket chains and wholesalers even have difficulties finding a supplier.
Also, the imported products are sold at cheaper prices due to subsidies given by foreign governments. The main suppliers of this product to Brazil are Argentina and Greece.