India-Brazil Relation / Brazil became shield for India, the friendship between the two is not deep without reason

India-Brazil Relation: Earlier Russia opposed the US tariffs against India, but now a new and unexpected ally has emerged - Brazil. The President of Brazil has made it clear that he will not talk to US President Donald Trump, but to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This statement gives several important indications. First, Brazil is angry with the tariff policy of the US. Second, as a founding member of the BRICS countries, Brazil has not forgotten its position against US pressure. Most importantly, India is Brazil's fifth largest trading partner, and the two countries have strong economic ties.

Indian companies have invested more than $6 billion in Brazil, and trade between the two countries is more than $12 billion. Brazil's economy is incomplete without India's diesel and medicines. Let us understand the trade relations between the two countries in detail.

India-Brazil trade: How big is it?

The trade relationship between India and Brazil is extremely strong. According to data from the Indian Embassy, the bilateral trade between the two countries stood at over $12.20 billion (about Rs 1 lakh crore) in FY 2024-25. India's exports to Brazil were $6.77 billion (about Rs 60 thousand crores) and imports from Brazil were $5.43 billion (about Rs 47 thousand crores). This means that India is in a trade surplus of more than Rs 12 thousand crores.

Major commodities involved in export and import

• There is import and export of diverse commodities between India and Brazil. Major exports from India to Brazil include:
• Processed petroleum products: Especially diesel, which is an important part of Brazil's energy needs.
• Agrichemicals: Pesticides and other chemicals that support Brazilian agriculture.
• Medicines: Medicines from Indian pharma companies play an important role in Brazil's health sector.
• Engineering products: Machinery and equipment.

Textured filament yarn and unwrought aluminium: for industrial use.

• On the other hand, India's imports from Brazil include:
• Crude oil: which India processes and exports to global markets.
• Soya oil and raw sugar: for the food industry.
• Gold (non-monetary), cotton, gum, wood, turpentine oil: various industrial and commercial uses.
• Chemicals (carboxylic acids) and iron ore: industrial raw materials.

India's investment in Brazil

India's investment in Brazil is no less impressive. According to estimates, the total investment of Indian companies in Brazil is more than $6 billion. In contrast, Brazil's investment in India is about $1 billion.

Major Indian companies in Brazil include:

• Pharmaceuticals: Glenmark, Zydus Cadila, Sun Pharma, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories.
• Chemicals and agriculture: Pidilite Industries, IFFCO.
• Energy: ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), BPRL.
• Automobile and Machinery: Bajaj, Tata Motors, Mahindra Tractors.
• IT: Infosys, TCS, HCL, Wipro.

Major Brazilian companies in India are:

• Automobile: Polo.
• Mining: Vale.
• IT: Stefanini.
• Steel: Gerdau.

Others: Dedini (ethanol production), Pharmas Kunz (footwear), Perto (ATM manufacturing), Fanam (hospital equipment).