Brazil's export trade with China achieved important growth in 2020, bucking the downward trend in the global market amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The China International Import Expo (CIIE), one of the country's largest annual trade fairs, has played a key role in this growth, industry experts said.

Official data released recently by Brazil's Ministry of Economy showed that the country's exports to China reached a record high of $67.69 billion in 2020, accounting for 32.3 percent of its total exports. This meant that China retained its position as Brazil's largest export destination.

Chinese customs data also revealed that China has been the largest trade partner of Brazil for 11 consecutive years and the biggest contributor to Brazil's trade surplus.

In the first 11 months of last year, 34.8 percent of Brazil's exported agricultural products were bound for China. The crude oil and iron ore shipped to China made up 58 and 71.8 percent of their total exports respectively.

By importing products including soybean, beef and ores, China helps support Brazil's economic development, Charles Andrew Tang, president of the Brazil-China Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCIBC), said in an interview with International Business Daily on the sidelines of the third CIIE held in November 2020.

The expo conveys a message to the world that China is a major importer of overseas products and has greatly benefited Brazilian companies, Tang added.

The expo provides Brazilian companies with excellent opportunities to raise their profile, talk to potential Chinese clients and partners, as well as tap the giant market in China, said Sergio Segovia, president of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil).

At the third CIIE in 2020, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, Apex-Brasil organized a group of more than 20 Brazilian companies which exhibited various kinds of goods, such as coffee, honey, and sparkling wine.

A number of Brazilian companies across different industries have sealed deals through the CIIE and exported products to China, said Roberto Imai, an official at the agricultural department of Brazil's Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo.

The fourth CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10 this year. Hundreds of companies have already registered for the event.