Brazil has been the largest tobacco exporter since 1993. The crop represented 5% of all shipments in the South Region of Brazil and, in Rio Grande do Sul, top Brazilian tobacco producer, leaf exports were only surpassed by soybean exports.

January 2025 – The numbers disclosed by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (MDIC/ComexStat) attest that Brazil continues in line with its tradition as a relevant player in the global tobacco market. In 2024, the Brazilian product was shipped to 113 countries: in all, 455 thousand tons brought in revenue of US$ 2.977 billion. In the historical average, Brazil has maintained annual shipments at 500 thousand tons and US$ 2 billion, over the past ten years.

According to the president of the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco), Valmor Thesing, the result has remained within the numbers projected by the Deloitte Marketing Consultancy in terms of volume (-15% and -10.1%), but revenue from foreign sales was adversely affected by global logistics problems. Even so, income from tobacco rose 9.08%, while research projections pointed to an increase from 20.1% to 25%.

“Despite all the climate-related problems faced in the 2023/24 growing season, first the prolonged drought and then the flood that occurred in Rio Grande do Sul, we managed to achieve a very positive performance. We did not achieve the US$ 3 billion estimated by our research teams because of a global logistic problem. The crop was produced, processed and commercialized but we did not manage to ship it abroad before the end of 2024”, Thesing commented, recalling that logistic problems tend to happen rather frequently, but over the past years these problems have intensified on account of wars and other factors that cause a delay to the flow of exports.

For the future, the executive officer at SindiTabaco is optimistic. Starting from the premise that Brazil is the top global exporter since 1993 and global demand is stable, we have a promising future ahead of us provided we keep the Integrated Tobacco Production System duly strengthened. The awareness of all the links of the tobacco supply chain about aspects such as phytosanitary concerns, product integrity, social and environmental responsibility, are important factors for us to keep our leadership position in a competitive global market”, he stresses.

The European market, which historically used to be the top destination of the tobaccos produced in Brazil, in 2024, remained on par with the purchases by the Far E, both with 34% of the total shipments. In the sequence, Africa and the Middle East account for 15% of the shipments, North America (9%) and Latin America (8%). Belgium, the United States continue on the list of major importers. Egypt, Indonesia and Vietnam come in the sequence of the major importers in 2024. The amount shipped to the six countries represent 67% of the total exports transformed into dollars over the period.

Brazilian exports in 2024
US$ 2,977,411 billion (+ 9.08%)
455,221 tons (- 11.10%

Share in exports in 2024
– Brazil: 0.88%
– South Region: 5.08%
– Rio Grande do Sul: 12.55%
– Santa Catarina: 1.18%

Markets of Brazilian Tobaccos – 2024:
– European Union/Europe other/Eastern Europe: 34%
– Far East: 34%
– Africa/Middle East: 15%
– North America: 9%
– Latin America: 8%

Main tobacco importing countries – 2024
1. Belgium (US$ 639 million)
2. China (US$ 585 million)
3. United States (US$ 255 million)
4. Egypt (US$ 235 million)
5. Indonesia (US$ 139 million)
6. Vietnam (US$ 136 million

About SindiTabaco
Founded on 24th June 1947, the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco) is based in Santa Cruz do Sul (RS), in the River Pardo Valley region, largest tobacco production and processing center in the world. Initially know as Tobacco Industry Union, the entity expanded its operations as time went by and, since 2010, it began to encompass the entire national territory, except Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Counting on 14 associate companies, the initiatives of the entity are concentrated mainly on the South Region of the Country, where 94% of the Brazilian tobacco crop is produced, involving 626 thousand people in the rural area, in 509 municipalities. Know more at sinditabaco.com.br