Partnership between Brazil and Norway grows with fertilizer trade
The duel between Brazil and Norway, scheduled for this Sunday (05), pits two teams face to face on the field. Outside of it, however, the two countries maintain an increasingly strategic relationship for Brazilian agribusiness. While Brazil supplies the Norwegian market with food, Norway provides an essential input for national agricultural production: fertilizers.
Brazil is one of the largest food producers in the world, but also one of the countries most dependent on importing nutrients for crops. Around 85% of the fertilizers used in the country come from abroad, which makes any geopolitical conflict a concern for the sector.
With the escalation of tensions in the Middle East this year, fears have increased about possible disruptions to Middle Eastern maritime routes, especially through the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor through which an important portion of world trade in fertilizers, sulfur and natural gas passes. The scenario raised the concern of Brazilian producers, trading companies and importers, who began to seek greater diversification of suppliers to reduce supply risks.
In this context, Norway gained even more importance as a supplier of fertilizers to Brazil. Data from ComexStat show that, between January and May 2026, trade between the two countries totaled US$874.4 million. Brazilian exports reached US$504.9 million, while imports reached US$369.4 million, guaranteeing a surplus of US$135.5 million for Brazil.
Although Norway is not among Brazil's main trading partners, it plays an important role in the agricultural supply chain. Among the products imported by Brazil from the European country, chemical fertilizers and fertilizers account for 15.3% of all imports, being the second main item purchased by Brazilians, behind only measuring instruments and devices.
The importance of these inputs gains even more weight when looking at the national scenario. In 2026, fertilizers lead the list of products imported by Brazil, with purchases of US$ 13.4 billion, surpassing fuels, medicines and industrial equipment. The number highlights the country's high dependence on the external market to guarantee the supply of soybean, corn, cotton, coffee, sugar cane and other crops.
The ComexStat historical series shows that Brazilian purchases of Norwegian fertilizers have remained present throughout the last decade, following fluctuations in international prices and demand in the agricultural sector. The behavior reinforces Norway's position as a constant supplier of nutrients used by Brazilian agriculture.
At the other end of the trade relationship, Brazil mainly exports products linked to agribusiness and industry. Among the highlights are alumina, vegetable oils, beef, leather, coffee and fruits, demonstrating that the Brazilian agenda is heavily based on commodities and foods.
Mercosur Agreement
This partnership could gain new momentum with the free trade agreement between Mercosur and EFTA (European Free Trade Association), a bloc formed by Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Negotiations were concluded a year ago and, in June of this year, the Chamber of Deputies approved the text, which is now awaiting analysis by the Federal Senate.
The agreement provides for tariff reductions, simplification of customs procedures and the creation of tax-free export quotas. For Brazilian agribusiness, the expectation is to expand access to the EFTA countries' market for products such as beef, pork and poultry, coffee, soy, corn, honey and fresh fruit. At the same time, the treaty should facilitate trade in industrial products and strengthen the business environment between countries.
https://stories.cnnbrasil.com.br/?post_type=web-story&p=589198
Source: CNN