Economy: Brazil
Key Facts
—Who. Ceará, a state in Brazil’s northeast whose capital is Fortaleza and which is home to the Port of Pecém.
—What. Exports to the United States fell 77.9% in September 2026 to US$42.94 million, from US$194.5 million in August.
—Total. All Ceará exports were US$112.72 million, down 67% from August and 29.16% from September 2025.
—Tariff. A 25% US surcharge on certain Brazilian goods took effect on 22 July 2026.
—Caution. The published figures do not say which products drove September’s fall, so the tariff cannot be treated as the only cause.
—When. Brazil’s trade ministry data, reported by O Povo on Wednesday 7 October 2026.
—As of. 7 October 2026, 23:50 GMT
Ceará’s exports to the United States fell 77.9% in September to US$42.94 million, from US$194.5 million in August. O Povo reported the figures on Wednesday 7 October 2026 from trade ministry data, and a new 25% US surcharge on some Brazilian goods took effect on 22 July.
What We Know
Ceará sold US$112.72 million abroad in September, 67% less than the US$341.62 million of August and 29.16% less than the US$159.11 million of September 2025. Exports to the United States made up US$42.94 million of that total.
The United States took 57% of Ceará’s exports in August and 38.09% in September. The Netherlands moved into second place with US$8.28 million, or 7.35% of the total.
Imports reached US$279.8 million in September, which left a trade deficit of US$167.1 million. Through September, Ceará’s exports total about US$1.7 billion, up 4.6% from a year earlier, according to O Povo.
A Sharp Swing From August
August had been the opposite story. Exports to the United States reached US$194.5 million, 20.4% above July and 243.1% above June, the last full month before the surcharge.
Ceará’s total exports of US$341.62 million in August were the highest monthly figure of the year and 124.5% above August 2025, according to GCMais, citing the state industry federation FIEC. September then gave back most of that gain.
FIEC data reported by GCMais attribute the August jump mainly to iron and steel. For September, neither the O Povo report nor the figures it cites say which products drove the fall.
The Tariff Behind the Headline
On 22 July 2026, a 25% surcharge under Section 301 of US trade law took effect on certain Brazilian goods, according to Brazil’s trade ministry. A second Section 301 measure adds 12.5% on part of Brazil’s exports, so some products face a combined 37.5%.
The ministry estimates that the new measures reach 23.1% of Brazilian exports to the United States, based on 2024 trade data. Another 24.2% is covered by separate Section 232 tariffs.
Shipments already in transit before 22 July could enter the United States until 29 July without the surcharge. Brazil’s exports to the United States fell 13% in the first half of 2026, from US$20 billion to US$17.4 billion, the ministry says.
Why the Picture Is Not Simple
Cast iron, iron and steel made up 63.8% of Ceará’s exports in August, according to GCMais. Steel falls under Section 232, and reports say pig iron is exempt from the new surcharge, so the surcharge alone may not explain the monthly swing.
Monthly export figures can also move sharply with the timing of large ship loadings. That is a general feature of commodity trade, not a finding from this data set.
What Is Not Known
The ministry data used by O Povo do not name the products behind September’s drop, and we have not seen a breakdown from Ceará’s own authorities. It is also unclear whether buyers delayed orders or whether shipments moved to other months.
Whether October will recover or fall further is unknown. The next monthly figures will show whether September was a one-month shock or the start of a lower level.
What It Means for US Readers and Investors
For US importers, Ceará is one source among many for Brazilian goods. Its shipments to the United States are one measure of how the new surcharge is affecting trade.
For investors, the figures give a state-level signal of the tariff’s reach, set against a 13% fall in Brazil’s exports to the United States in the first half. For related reading, see our reports on Brazil’s corn exports and Brazilian industrial production.
More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Ceará’s exports to the US fall in September?
Ceará’s exports to the United States fell 77.9% to US$42.94 million, from US$194.5 million in August. Total state exports were US$112.72 million, down 67% on the month.
What is the US surcharge on Brazilian goods?
A 25% surcharge under Section 301 of US trade law took effect on certain Brazilian goods on 22 July 2026. A second measure adds 12.5% on part of Brazil’s exports, so some goods face 37.5% together.
Is the tariff the only reason for the drop?
The published figures do not say which products drove September’s fall, so the tariff cannot be named as the only cause. August was an unusually strong month, which makes the September comparison steeper.
Which countries bought more from Ceará?
The Netherlands moved into second place among buyers in September with US$8.28 million, or 7.35% of exports. The United States share of exports fell from 57% in August to 38.09%.
Sources
Connected Coverage
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief