Brazil’s Small Businesses Power Record Export Growth and Job Creation in 2025
Brazil’s record $348.7B exports in 2025 spotlight small businesses’ key role, supported by government and Sebrae efforts to boost value and jobs.
- • Brazil's exports hit a record US$348.7 billion in 2025, led significantly by small businesses.
- • About 40% of exporting companies in Brazil are small businesses.
- • Sebrae supports small exporters with training and consulting to increase export value.
- • Micro and small enterprises created over 1.3 million formal jobs in Brazil from January to November 2025, representing 70% of formal employment growth.
- • Government aims to enhance export value through improved policies and international market expansion.
Key details
Brazil achieved a historic export milestone in 2025, with total exports reaching US$348.7 billion, surpassing the previous record by US$9 billion, according to the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services (MDIC). Small businesses played a pivotal role in this achievement, representing about 40% of all exporting companies. Despite geopolitical challenges, Brazil expanded into over 40 markets with record purchases of Brazilian goods, including key countries like Canada, India, Turkey, Paraguay, Uruguay, Switzerland, Pakistan, and Norway.
Government efforts are focused on increasing the value added by small business exports. Gustavo Reis, business analyst at Sebrae Nacional, stressed the importance of enhancing the quality and value of products and services exported by small enterprises. He highlighted the need for advancements in Brazil's national export culture policy, which includes improving tax incentives, providing training, and promoting commercial actions to support these businesses.
Sebrae has been instrumental in offering capacity building and resources—both online and in-person—for small companies aiming to enter international markets. The outlook for 2026 anticipates a rise in the number of exporter firms and enhanced export value.
In addition to export contributions, micro and small enterprises (MPEs) significantly impacted Brazil’s labor market in 2025. Data from Sebrae based on Caged records revealed that MPEs generated more than 1.3 million formal jobs from January to November, accounting for 70% of all formal employment in Brazil during this period. This surpasses the 1.22 million formal jobs created in 2024.
Décio Lima, president of Sebrae, noted the near full employment condition and the favorable economic environment fostering these employment gains. The Commerce sector led job creation among MPEs with 63,400 new formal positions in November 2025, followed by Services and Construction sectors. These developments underscore the vital role small businesses play in both Brazil’s export growth and employment generation.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
