Brazil & Chile: The Roadmap to Long-Term Business Success

British exporters are finding fertile ground in Latin America, with Brazil and Chile emerging as key markets for expansion. In the year ending Q4 2024, the UK exported £6.9 billion worth of goods and services to Brazil, a 7.3% year-on-year increase that positions the country as the UK’s 27th-largest trading partner. High-growth sectors include pharmaceuticals (valued at £480 million), medical devices, renewables, financial services, education, and fintech, signalling broad opportunity across industries. 

Chile, meanwhile, stands out as a leading destination for British investment. As the fifth-largest foreign investor in the country, the UK holds a foreign direct investment stock of USD 16.3 billion. This capital spans key sectors such as mining, energy, manufacturing, and healthcare. Chile’s GDP is on track to grow by 2.1% in 2025, driven largely by exports and strengthened by increased trade collaboration with Brazil, which alone accounted for USD 2.7 billion in Q1 2025. 

Understanding local consumer preferences is vital to long-term success in these markets. In Brazil, a tech-savvy population and strong domestic consumption reflected in 3.4% GDP growth in 2024, creating opportunities for digital innovation and e-commerce. Online grocery shopping is on the rise, while the pork industry, with Brazil being the world’s fourth-largest producer, continues to expand. Exports hit 502,700 tonnes in early 2025, and per-capita consumption is now at 19 kg annually, indicating robust demand for high-quality meat products and related technologies. 

Chilean consumers, by contrast, are increasingly driven by sustainability and supply chain transparency. This trend is supported by recent pro-business reforms and a government committed to digital governance. Clean energy remains a top priority, with fast-tracked permitting and a strong focus on green hydrogen development. 

Government-led initiatives further enhance the export landscape. In Brazil, ApexBrasil, the national trade and investment promotion agency facilitates approximately one-third of the country’s annual exports and 25% of its foreign direct investment inflows. These efforts are underpinned by public–private investment funds totalling around USD 200 million as of 2022. The National Hydrogen Program (PNH2) is another strategic initiative, leveraging Brazil’s vast renewable resources to promote green hydrogen. 

Chile is equally active on the international stage. InvestChile’s London Roadshow in June 2025 spotlighted a USD 7.8 billion infrastructure concession portfolio aimed at global investors. With a strategic push into lithium and green hydrogen sectors, the Chilean government is rapidly modernizing its permitting processes - reducing approval times by up to 70% and drawing interest from over 50 international companies. 

Together, these developments offer a compelling case for UK businesses seeking sustainable and scalable growth in Latin America. Brazil and Chile not only present growing demand and evolving consumer markets but also strong institutional support to help British exporters succeed. 

Source: Global Statistics