巴西免税进口额创26亿雷亚尔新高，中资电商物流承压

Jorge Gonçalves Filho Carol Carquejeiro/Valor Brazil has never imported as many low-cost goods with tax exemptions or reduced duties as it did in June through the Remessa Conforme program, created by the federal government in 2023 to regulate low-value international shipments. Last month, international shipments reached a record R$2.6 billion, the highest level since the advance customs clearance program was launched, according to a Valor analysis of Federal Revenue data. The surge in shipments came shortly after the government, following a personal push by President Lula, reinstated a zero import duty on international purchases below $50. Since the rules changed in May, the total value of goods shipped to Brazil has risen 77.5%, while shipment volume has increased 74.2%. Compared with June 2025, the value of imports more than doubled. Tax reform shifts revenue weight toward Brazilian cities Government expands financing for app drivers to include pre-owned cars Election-year benefits struggle to revive Brazilian retail To put the figure into perspective, the R$2.6 billion recorded in June is equivalent to Lojas Renner’s total net apparel sales during the first quarter (January through March). It is also nine times the value of all sales generated by retailer Marisa during the same three-month period. Organizations representing Brazil’s manufacturing and retail sectors criticized the federal government, arguing that the measure was politically motivated ahead of the presidential election, now five months away. Surveys indicate that more than 90% of Brazilians support restoring the tax exemption. The zero-duty policy was in place until August 2024, when a 20% import tax took effect. Asked for comment, the Federal Revenue said it is too early to determine whether June’s surge reflects a lasting trend or merely a temporary spike. International marketplaces argue that the measure democratizes consumption by expanding access to a broader range of products while also creating jobs. The official data show imports began accelerating in May after the government issued the Provisional Presidential Decree No. 1,357 on May 12. The measure eliminated the 20% import duty on international purchases of up to $50 and also reduced the tax burden on shipments valued between $50 and $3,000. For packages in that price range, the statutory import duty remains 60%, with a fixed $30 deduction from the tax amount, effectively lowering the final cost for consumers. Employment data for the retail sector show that Brazil eliminated nearly 70,000 retail jobs in May, the month the provisional measure was issued, according to the General Register of Employed and Unemployed Workers (Caged). More than half of those job losses—43,000—occurred in the apparel, footwear, and accessories segment. On July 9, the Federal Revenue released updated Remessa Conforme data showing that shipments rose 29.6% in May from April to R$1.9 billion. In June, shipments increased by another 37% from May, reaching R$2.6 billion. Based on those figures, the total value of international shipments increased 81.5% between April and June alone. Compared with 2025, the value more than doubled, rising from R$1.29 billion to R$2.6 billion. The period covers both the months before and after the decree was issued, including the increase already recorded in May, when online platforms began informing customers they could once again import goods worth up to $50 without paying import duties. Before June, the previous record under the Remessa Conforme program had been set in May this year, at R$1.9 billion. Before that, the highest monthly total had been recorded in November 2025, during the Black Friday shopping season, at R$1.7 billion. In terms of volume, June also marked the highest level since the program’s launch three years ago. Brazil received 27.4 million individual shipments during the month—about 910,000 per day—up 40% from May, which itself had risen 24.6% from April. Compared with June 2025, Brazilians purchased more than twice as many packages from abroad, with shipment volumes rising 116%. Valor learned that during a public hearing in Brasília on July 9 on the illegal market, Fabrício Betto, the Federal Revenue’s general coordinator for customs administration, highlighted the sharp increase in legal imports following the tax exemption and said customs authorities had to ask shipping companies to slow deliveries to Brazil temporarily. “I spoke with one of these foreign operators, and their shipment volumes increased by 30% after the exemption. Two weeks ago, the Federal Revenue unit at Guarulhos Airport had to ask parcel carriers to stop sending aircraft there because they simply no longer had the capacity to process the volume of packages arriving,” Betto told the congressional committee. “Today we learned that Campinas [Viracopos Airport] will begin receiving two weekly flights carrying 90 tonnes of shipments directly from China,” he added. On Thursday (16), analysts at BTG Pactual and Citi published reports citing the Federal Revenue data and warning of potential negative effects on Brazilian retailers. BTG noted that local companies are now better positioned to compete with international marketplaces. Even so, retail stocks came under pressure on Friday (17), with C&A shares falling 2.3% and Lojas Renner declining 1.68%. Despite concerns among Brazilian companies about possible negative effects on employment, consumers continue to favor imported goods. A survey conducted between May 12 and May 21 with 1,300 consumers found that 92% believe permanently eliminating the tax is the right decision. Support reached 97% in southeastern Brazil and 94% in the Northeast, according to Proteste | Euroconsumers Brasil. About 75% of respondents said they consider taxes on purchases of up to $50 unfair. Among lower-income consumers in socioeconomic classes C and D, that figure rises to 79%. The survey did not ask respondents about the potential impact on jobs or income generation in Brazil. “There is no technical justification whatsoever for eliminating the tax. The only explanation is the search for votes. At a time when the government needs more revenue, it is also giving money away,” said Jorge Gonçalves Filho, president of the Institute for Retail Development (IDV), which represents about 70 retail chains. In 2025, the 20% import duty generated R$5 billion in tax revenue, a 74% increase. In 2022, retail accounted for 11.1% of Brazil’s GDP. That fell to 10.5% in 2023, 10% in 2025, and declined further to 9.9% in April this year, Gonçalves Filho said. “The problem is that this pressure comes on top of the rapid growth of online betting, rising household indebtedness, and the workweek reform. In that environment, there is no room for retailers to resume investment.” According to Edmundo Lima, executive director of the Brazilian Textile Retail Association (Abvtex), the industry has submitted a proposed amendment to Congress that would establish a zero tax rate for products aimed at the mass-market retail segment. “Eliminating the 20% duty is unjustifiable, except for electoral reasons,” he said. “We support an amendment that would exempt products priced at up to R$250, equivalent to the $50 threshold. We see room for debate among lawmakers from different political groups. Another option would be broader tax relief, but given current fiscal pressures, that has less political appeal.” “We expect that lawmakers will recognize the magnitude of the problem and allow the provisional decree to expire in September, although we believe that is unlikely because it would happen before the election and the measure has electoral appeal,” he said. Foreign marketplaces argue that opening Brazil further to imports democratizes consumption and creates jobs. “Companies have invested heavily in logistics and distribution in recent years and have also created jobs for last-mile delivery workers. Just look at the streets and see how many delivery drivers and self-employed workers are active,” said an executive at an international marketplace. In a statement, Amobitec, which represents international digital platforms, said the increase in sales was “natural and expected.” Valor contacted the Presidential Communications Secretariat, the Finance Ministry, and the Federal Revenue for comment on the data and the claims made by the various parties. The Federal Revenue said that about 32% of the nearly R$13 billion in imports processed through the program so far in 2026 involved shipments worth more than $50, which remain subject to import duties, totaling R$4.2 billion. The agency said the purpose of Remessa Conforme is to improve customs controls and enforcement, adding that since the program was launched, more than 2 million shipments destined for Brazil have been rejected for failing to comply with legal requirements. It also noted that the increase in international parcel shipments reflects a broader global trend driven by the expansion of e-commerce.