Brazilian trade with Sub-Saharan Africa (2000-2018)

Abstract

Trade between Brazil and Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries experienced a fourfold increase in the first decade of the twenty-first century. The main question is if it was a sign of the beginning of the long-expected deeper integration of Brazil with African countries. This chapter relies on trade data from 2000 to 2018 to offer some evidence and answers. Trade boomed during most part of this period mainly due to higher oil prices, the bulk of Brazilian imports from the Sub-Saharan African countries. Despite being much more diversified than imports, exports from Brazil were concentrated in a few countries (mainly Angola, Nigeria and South Africa) and in a few products (mainly sugar and meat). There is some evidence that trade promotion could explain part of higher Brazilian exports, but politics of trade do not seem to be the answer for a deeper trade integration between Brazil and Sub-Saharan Africa.