The US share of Brazilian exports fell to its lowest level since 1997 in the first half of 2026, while China widened its lead as the country’s top trading partner, according to the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil, whose report landed as Washington held public hearings on a proposed new round of tariffs against Brazilian goods.

American buyers took 9.4 per cent of Brazilian exports between January and June, down from 12.1 per cent a year earlier and the smallest share in the chamber’s records. China’s share rose to 31.5 per cent from 28.9 per cent, nearly a third of everything Brazil sells abroad.

The decline pushed total trade between the two countries down 12.8 per cent, to US$36.4 billion, with goods subject to American surtaxes dropping 20.5 per cent in the 12 months through June.

China now ranks as the top trading partner for 14 Brazilian states, according to ApexBrasil, the government trade promotion agency. The shift reverses the map from two decades ago, when 17 states counted the US as their largest market, compared with six today.

Brazilian exporters have responded by hunting for new buyers, with 72 per cent of the companies assisted by the agency opening at least one market since the tariffs were imposed.