The import of photovoltaic modules, cells and systems fell at the beginning of 2025, according to new data from the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade. Brazil imported $ 722.2 million free on board (FOB) of these products from January to April, a decrease of $ 1.08 billion a year earlier.
The recession comes in the midst of various headwinds: a higher input load, a basic interest rate of 14.75%, and the decision of the government not to reimburse PV system owners for disposal. According to the Absolar, these factors have pushed large international developers of the Brazilian market according to the Absolar.
The Brazilian government increased the import load from 9.6% to 25% at the end of 2024, which increased the Capex project by more than 8%, according to Consultancy Greener. The administration has also canceled import quota that would have gradually reduced the tax exposure until June 2027.
Government officials said that the tax increase and the end of the exemptions were aimed at the level of the playing field between domestic and imported products. They mentioned potential job creation and investments in the Solar Manufacturing sector in Brazil, which they said they should support a projected annual demand of 17.8 GW. The domestic production capacity, however, remains approximately 1 GW per year.
From January to April, the import of non -assembled cells – important inputs for the production of local module – fell in value of $ 1.81 billion to $ 1.67 billion years after year. However, the volumes rose by 46.7%, from 9 million to 13.2 million units.
The input of complete PV systems, which usually contain multiple components that go beyond modules, also increased in both value and volume.
In 2024, Brazil imported $ 2.62 billion FOB from PV modules, cells and systems. Assembled modules accounted for 99.7% of the value ($ 2.61 billion), non -assembled cells for 0.22% ($ 5.72 million) and PV generators for 0.8% ($ 2.27 million).
The total value fell from $ 3.8 billion in 2023, but the volume of imported units rose to 476 million in 2024 from 198 million the year before. Greener estimated that Brazil imported around 22 GW capacity in 2024, an increase of 17.5 GW in 2023.
Diversified trade
In 2024, 46% of the import imported through the port of Santos in São Paulo ($ 1.21 billion), followed by São Francisco do Sul in Santa Catarina ($ 270 million) and Paranaguá in Paraná ($ 262 million). But until April 2025 the share of these ports fell to 40.1%, 3.2%and 9.7%respectively. At Salvador Customs, the share of the total input of 8.6% increased in 2024 to 12.3% early 2025.
According to the number of units, Santos treated 45% of the import in 2024 but only 10.9% early 2025. Suape took the lead, which increases the share of 18% in 2024 to 29% to April.
Thiago Rios, CEO of MTR Solar, said that most equipment still arrives via ports in the southeastern region of Brazil and long distances inland must be sent, increasing costs and logistical risks. He noted that new trade routes can decentralize operations and relieve bottlenecks.
New routes between China and Brazil could accelerate this shift. In April a direct shipping line from the port of Gaolan in Zhuhai, China, started to the Brazilian ports of Santana (Amapá) and Salvador (Bahia). The route avoids intervening stops and follows a path through the street of Malacca and the cape of good hope.
Pansarella said that the new connection shortens for a maximum of 15 days free due to the transit time and could lower the logistics costs by more than 30%. The Brazilian ministry of ports and airports said the route shortens the delivery time to 30 to 35 days. The port of Pecém, in Ceará, is also expected to benefit, which reduces the cargo time from China to about 30 days.
Rios said that faster, more frequent shipping could reform the supply chain, especially because China remains the best source for modules and inverters. Logistics hubs near new access gates can strengthen the profits.
To reach more regions, the domestic cabotage or a short distance from the coast of the coast must expand, Pansarella added, because new international routes will not serve every port.
In distributed generation, RIOS and Pansarella agreed that logistical improvements will only provide benefits after distributors have worked through the current Overstock, which can take up to six months. But predictable delivery schedules can enable companies to maintain slimmer stocks, reducing the need for large safety shares.
Railway plans
In addition to supporting the import of industrial and technical input from Asia, the new maritime corridor also serves the most important agricultural and mine hubs of Brazil, making Santana and Salvador strategic export ports.
Brazil is also studying a new trade route with China via the Pacific. The proposed Brazil-Peru Bioceanic Corridor would connect Porto Sul in Ilhéus (Bahia) with the Peruvian port of Chancay near Lima. The project would rely on a transcontinental railway that runs from east to west through Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Rondônia and Acre.
The Brazilian Ministry of Transport said that China is expected to produce a new feasibility study. The aim is to create a strategic transoceanic freight route to expand trade between South America and Asia.
Leonardo Ribeiro, national secretary for rail transport, said that Brazil exports $ 350 billion a year, with about a third to China. Of this, 60% is iron ore and soybeans, which require rail transport for costs and environmental efficiency.
The proposed multimodal corridor can shorten the delivery times and offer an alternative to overloaded or poorly maintained routes. Pansarella said that rail transport could also lower logistics costs for components of heavy tanning factory such as trackers and cables, and possibly even for modules.
Although the new trade routes do not solve the PV market challenges of Brazil, they can reduce costs and delivery times in the long term. Extensive export can also support the demand for domestic electricity, which remains an important limitation for the growth of solar energy.
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