Brazil's Dependence on Imported Natural Resources

Despite vast domestic resources, Brazil imports key commodities:

• Crude Oil: ~1.8M bpd (2021) from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Nigeria – to meet refining demand.
• Natural Gas: ~1.5 Bcf/d from Bolivia, Argentina – supplements domestic output.
• Coal: ~18M tons from USA, Colombia, South Africa – limited domestic reserves.
• Fertilizers: Heavy reliance on Russia, Canada, China (potash, phosphate, nitrogen) for agriculture.
• Metals & Minerals: Copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum – scarce domestically, vital for industry.

Drivers: rising domestic demand, infrastructure bottlenecks, and need for specific industrial grades not found locally.