Brazil Increases Imports Of Russian Oil Products

Unlike China and India, Brazil does not import crude oil directly from Russia. However, it ranks as the third-largest buyer of Russian refined petroleum products globally—behind Turkiye (26%) and China (13%)—accounting for 12% of such imports.

Those imports have also been increasing. According to data from the Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), Brazil imported €443 million (US$483 million) worth of Russian oil products in June 2025 alone. Brazil’s imports of Russian oil products rose 40% between January and October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with Brazil now buying 50% of its clean petroleum products from Russia and just 13% from the United States. Since early 2023, Brazil has spent nearly €20 billion (US$21.8 billion) on imports of Russian refined oil. That is revenue that Washington sees as preferably belonging to US oil sales and not Russia’s.

Brazil has also reached out to the BRICS countries to counterbalance US tariffs and direct trade away from the United States. With the US imposing 50% tariffs on Brazil’s own crude oil, which like Russia’s, needs refining, Brazil has begun exporting to India instead, with India’s crude oil imports from Brazil surging by 75% over 2024.

Like China and India, Brazil has ignored the threat of United States tariffs. This is impacting more than just oil and has spilled over into the agriculture sector as well. For example, Brazil has made a deal with China to import more Brazilian coffee and soybeans from China instead of selling to and sourcing these products from the United States.

30% of US coffee consumption was sourced from Brazil until June this year, resulting in significant US price increases, while Brazilian farmers have dislodged US producers from the China market, leaving the US with plenty of soy but no buyers.

A Starbucks Café Latte Grande cost US$3.65 in May this year in the United States. That has increased to US$6.48 as of August.