Your partner for Brazil
Imports & exports by air and sea freight
Brazil is the largest country in South America by both area and population and one of the world’s major economies. Like many emerging economies, it continues to face marked contrasts, structural challenges and considerable development needs. Despite these difficulties, the resource-rich country offers substantial potential, including for exports and imports.
Sea, Air, Transport & Service provides the transport expertise to support your overseas business with Brazil. Our worldwide partner network also gives us a local presence there. Our central hub is Santos, near the major metropolitan area of São Paulo. Santos is Brazil’s largest seaport and an important gateway for the country’s sea freight. It is also home to South America’s largest container port.
Solutions for your exports, imports or relocation
From this central gateway, we can offer a wide range of transport solutions throughout the country. Whether your destination is a city such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Recife or São Luís or an inland location such as Brasília or Manaus, we can help. We combine sea freight, air freight and inland transport to suit your requirements while keeping costs under control.
Our services extend beyond cargo transport. We also have the expertise to arrange relocations to or from Brazil for your company or its employees.
Our aim is always to provide a complete logistics solution. In addition to door-to-door transport, this includes handling the formalities and customs clearance, so that you have less to organise yourself. Our local partners are familiar with Brazilian regulations and business practices. You can rely on their expertise and reliability, backed by our commitment to the service.
We will be happy to help
Choose Sea, Air, Transport & Service for your business with Brazil. We will be happy to answer your questions and advise you. You can reach us easily through our contact form, by email or by phone. With a few specific details about your export, import or relocation transport requirements, we can also prepare a competitive quotation promptly. Discover what we can do for you.
Brazil’s economy: historical background and 2013–2014 figures
- With gross domestic product of approximately US$2.4 trillion in 2014, Brazil was the world’s seventh-largest economy;
- with income per person of approximately US$11,600 in 2014 and a population of around 200 million at the time, Brazil ranked in the middle of the international comparison;
- Brazil’s trade-to-GDP ratio was 21.5% in 2013, illustrating the role of exports and imports in its economy;
- the historical trade profile listed raw materials, food and machinery among the main exports. Imports were broadly diversified, with petroleum, chemicals and machinery accounting for major shares;
- the main trading partners in that profile were the People’s Republic of China, the United States and neighbouring Argentina. EU countries accounted for approximately one-sixth to one-seventh of foreign trade;
- Germany was one of Brazil’s principal EU trading partners. In 2013, Brazil imported goods worth €11.3 billion from Germany and exported goods worth €9.3 billion to Germany.
Selected airports in Brazil:
| Airport / seaport | IATA code / UN/LOCODE | City served |
| Rio de Janeiro International Airport | GIG | Rio de Janeiro |
| Aeroporto Santos Dumont | SDU | Rio de Janeiro |
| Guarulhos International Airport | GRU | São Paulo |
| Congonhas Airport | CGH | São Paulo |
01. The right partner!
Benefit from our experience in transport to and from Brazil.
Our extensive network in Brazil and competitive terms make us a strong partner.
02. What do you need?
Brazil: your freight forwarder for imports & exports
Brazil is one of Germany’s and the EU’s main trading partners in Latin America. German companies primarily supply machinery, automotive parts, vehicles, chemicals and pharmaceuticals to Brazil, while the South American country supplies Europe with agricultural commodities such as coffee and soybeans, ores, food and animal feed. SATS Group organises reliable transport chains in both directions on this route, from the factory gate to the consignee.
Transport routes to Brazil
- Sea freight: The principal gateway is Santos, one of South America’s largest container ports, complemented by Rio de Janeiro and Paranaguá. Depending on the service, the journey from the North Sea ports of Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Rotterdam to Santos takes approximately three to four weeks. We ship full container loads (FCL), less-than-container loads (LCL) and project cargo.
- Air freight: For urgent and high-value shipments, we use the major cargo gateways of Viracopos/Campinas and São Paulo-Guarulhos, suitable for spare parts and temperature-sensitive goods.
- Multimodal collection and onward transport connect ports and airports with the industrial region around São Paulo and other parts of Brazil.
Customs and documents
Imports into Brazil involve a demanding customs process, including trade registration, correct NCM tariff classification and complete accompanying documents: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill and, where required, a certificate of origin. The EU–Mercosur interim trade agreement has applied provisionally since 1 May 2026. Any preferential treatment must meet the applicable product, implementation and origin requirements. We check possible eligibility and manage the complete customs process for imports and exports.
As an experienced partner for the Brazil route, SATS Group brings sea freight, air freight, customs clearance and advice together in one coordinated service, with clear planning, transparency and personal support.