Brazil and Norway meet on the field this Sunday, July 5, but their deeper relationship is increasingly tied to Brazilian farms. Based on single-source reporting from CNN Brasil, the two countries have built a trade link in which Brazil sells food and commodities while Norway supplies a key input for Brazilian agriculture: fertilizer.
Brazil is one of the world’s major food producers, but it depends heavily on imported crop nutrients. CNN Brasil reported that about 85% of the fertilizers used in the country come from abroad, making supply routes and foreign producers a strategic concern for farmers, traders and importers.
A Supply Chain Issue
That dependence has become more sensitive in 2026 because of rising tensions in the Middle East. The concern centers on possible disruption to maritime routes, especially through the Strait of Hormuz, a corridor used in global trade of fertilizers, sulfur and natural gas.
For Brazilian agriculture, the issue is practical rather than abstract. Soybeans, corn, cotton, coffee, sugarcane and other crops rely on steady access to imported nutrients. Any interruption can raise costs or threaten planning for planting seasons.
Norway has gained importance in that context as a more stable supplier. According to ComexStat data cited by CNN Brasil, trade between Brazil and Norway reached USD 874.4 million from January to May 2026. Brazilian exports totaled USD 504.9 million, while imports from Norway reached USD 369.4 million, leaving Brazil with a USD 135.5 million surplus.
Fertilizers in the Trade Basket
Norway is not among Brazil’s largest overall trading partners. Its role is more specific: it is part of the supply chain behind Brazilian agribusiness.
Among products Brazil imports from Norway, chemical fertilizers account for 15.3% of the import basket, CNN Brasil reported. They are the second-largest category bought by Brazilian importers from the European country, behind measuring instruments and devices.
The national picture shows why the item matters. In 2026, fertilizers lead Brazil’s total import list, with purchases of USD 13.4 billion, ahead of fuels, medicines and industrial equipment. The figure reflects how exposed Brazilian farming remains to external suppliers, even as the country is a major exporter of food.
ComexStat’s historical series shows that Brazilian purchases of Norwegian fertilizers have remained present over the past decade, moving with international prices and agricultural demand. CNN Brasil described Norway as a consistent supplier of nutrients used by Brazilian agriculture.
A Possible Trade Boost
The relationship could expand under the free trade agreement between Mercosur, the South American customs bloc that includes Brazil, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), made up of Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Negotiations were completed a year ago, and Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies approved the text in June 2026. The agreement is now awaiting review by the Federal Senate, the upper house of Brazil’s Congress.
The deal provides for tariff reductions, simpler customs procedures and tax-free export quotas. For Brazilian agribusiness, the expected gains include broader access to EFTA markets for beef, pork, poultry, coffee, soybeans, corn, honey and fresh fruit.
Brazil’s exports to Norway already include agribusiness and industrial goods such as alumina, vegetable oils, beef, leather, coffee and fruit. The trade pattern shows a relationship shaped by commodities, food and the inputs needed to keep Brazilian farms producing.