The world’s tenth largest economy;
Key Nation in South America;
Key Role on FTAA, WTO;
Is the world’s:
Largest producer of regional jets;
Biggest producer of coffee, orange juice, sugar, electric power and ethanol;
Leading exporter of sugar, coffee, beef and orange juice.
Other major exports include soybeans, aircraft, vehicles, iron ore, steel, textiles and footwear;
Possesses large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing and service sectors;
22% of the world’s arable land surface;
80% of The Fortune Top 500 have subsidiaries in the country;
The US is Brazil’s single largest trade partner.
Biofuel Success
No other country is better placed to cash in on the global craze for biofuels;
Few countries are as prepared as Brazil to produce low-pollution fuels derived from renewable sources;
Until 2008 Brazil will increase four times its biofuel production (currently 200 million liters);
Its extensive use of alternative fuels makes Brazil a world leader in ethanol.
Information Technology
Brazil is responsible for more than 50% of the entire Latin America IT market;
100% of import and export procedures are performed electronically;
Brazil has the world’s most modern electronic voting system;
99% of tax returns in Brazil are filed electronically.
Transportation
Ports
54 with capacity for over 700 million tons/year;
Airports
Infraero manages 66 airports with 81 air traffic support units and 32 cargo terminals. It stores and palletizes 1.3 million tons of air cargo every year;
Highways
The 3rd largest in the world. The 1.7 million kilometers of highways cover all the Brazilian states;
Energy
Oil
Since 2006, Brazil has been independent of the need for foreign oil – has 10.6 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, in South America second-largest only to Venezuela;
Ethanol
Brazil is the largest producer in the world;
Natural Gas
Brazil had 8.8 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves in 2005
Petroleum
The country’s reserves reach 20 billion barrels;
Hydroelectricity
Brazil generates 84% of its total electricity supply.
