Garments

What Brazil buys

Bangladesh has been Brazil's second-largest clothing supplier every year from 2018 to 2025 (ComexStat, 2018–2025). In 2025 Brazil imported US$240 million of clothing from Bangladesh, 10.2% of all its clothing imports (ComexStat, 2025). Seen from Dhaka, garments made up 92% of Bangladesh's record US$215 million of exports to Brazil, about US$198 million (EPB, FY2025-26).

Demand is concentrated in everyday cotton basics. The lines Brazil bought most from Bangladesh were men's cotton trousers and shorts, cotton T-shirts, pullovers in cotton and man-made fibres, men's cotton shirts and women's cotton trousers (ComexStat, 2025). The wider market is large: Brazil imported US$6.81 billion of textiles and apparel in 2025, more than US$4 billion of it from China (Abit, 2025).

Rules to know

Every one of the 243 clothing tariff lines in HS chapters 61 and 62 carries a 35% import duty, with no preference for Bangladesh (Camex tariff schedule, Oct 2026). PIS/COFINS-Importação and state ICMS are charged on top. Because no preference exists, Bangladesh's graduation from LDC status does not change what its garments pay in Brazil. Labels on imported clothing must be in Portuguese, and the Brazilian buyer must be an importer enabled in Siscomex. Abit, the Brazilian textile industry association, has called for trade defence against Asian apparel, so watch for new measures.

How to win Brazilian buyers

Compete on reliability and compliance, not on price alone. Bring the numbers of your LEED, WRAP, OEKO-TEX, GOTS or ISO certificates: buyers can check them in public registers. Agree the Portuguese label text with your buyer before production, and quote FOB and CIF prices so landed costs are easy to compare. Show the cotton basics Brazil already buys, then offer the next step up in fabric, finish or fit. Samples for the stand enter Brazil under temporary admission, as ATA Carnets are not accepted.