Trade mission to Brazil and Argentina 2027

Brazil and Argentina are the two largest food markets in Latin America; despite their differing economic profiles, they are united by a steadily growing demand for imported food products in the premium and speciality segments. Brazil’s retail market for packaged food is estimated at US$139.4 billion in 2024 — the largest market in Latin America and the fifth largest in the world, with growth forecast to reach US$199 billion by 2029. Imports of consumer goods to Brazil reached US$5.8 billion in 2023, up 14% on the previous year, with European countries accounting for around 30% of this market and positioning themselves in the higher price segment. Argentina, despite economic volatility, is actively liberalising trade under the current administration, opening up new opportunities for foreign suppliers.

Brazilian importers are actively updating their product portfolios in search of new suppliers, offering foreign manufacturers the opportunity to carve out a niche in the premium and specialist product segment. Any imported product that makes it onto the shelves of Brazilian supermarkets automatically falls into the premium price category — so it is crucial for success that the product’s premium characteristics are clear to the consumer. Key consumer trends include growing demand for organic, natural and functional products, as well as plant-based alternatives to traditional animal-derived products. Promising categories for Ukrainian producers include dairy products, confectionery, chocolate and cocoa products, tinned and processed vegetables, juices and concentrates, as well as frozen fruit and vegetables.

Participation in the trade mission gives producers the opportunity to hold direct negotiations with Brazilian and Argentine importers and distributors, assess the market’s readiness for their products, and gain an understanding of registration and certification requirements. The food categories most frequently exported to Brazil from Europe include dairy products, processed vegetables, chocolate and cocoa products, as well as juices and food preparations — it is in these categories that Ukrainian producers have real competitive potential. In Argentina, quantitative import restrictions are expected to be replaced by more transparent statistical regulation, signalling the opening of the market to new suppliers in the coming years.