Guyana-Brazil two-way trade climbs to US$1b on energy, mining demand

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Commerce between Guyana and Brazil has surged in recent years, creating fresh openings for investment, private-sector expansion and tighter regional integration, says Dr Peter Ramsaroop, chief investment officer at the Guyana Office for Investment.

Ramsaroop noted that the swift growth points to a deepening partnership between the two neighbours.

Brazil's ambassador to Guyana, Maria Cristina de Castro Martins, indicated that two-way trade has jumped from roughly US$58 million in 2020 to about US$1 billion in 2026 — a more than sixteen-fold rise — calling it a major leap in economic cooperation fuelled by demand across energy, mining, infrastructure and construction.

According to her, almost all of Guyana's shipments to Brazil — close to 98 per cent — consist of crude oil, while Brazilian sales into Guyana are dominated by machinery and industrial equipment destined for construction, mining, extractive operations and oil production.

Ramsaroop said the ambassador's comments “reflect the significant expansion in engagement and cooperation between our two countries in recent years, particularly in trade, infrastructure, agriculture, logistics and private-sector collaboration”.

He highlighted a slate of major infrastructure works that are positioning Guyana as a strategic commercial bridge linking the Caribbean to South America. Among them are the upgraded roadway running to northern Brazil; enlarged port facilities including the Tristar terminal; a planned deep-water port in Berbice; broader logistics capacity; and government plans to convert Lethem airport into an international gateway.

Those projects, he said, should open up gains across trade, tourism, transportation, manufacturing and industrial activity.

“We are seeing increasing interest from companies in sectors, such as large-scale agriculture, agro-processing, logistics, construction, manufacturing, energy support services and infrastructure development. Guyana is strategically positioned between the Caribbean and South America, creating opportunities for regional expansion and integration,” he said.

Local firms, particularly those in Lethem and Region Nine, are well placed to gain from closer dealings with Brazil through stronger economic flows and better connectivity, he added.

Greater port capacity, upgraded transport corridors and tighter links between the two states “will create new opportunities for our local private sector in transportation, logistics, hospitality, cargo-handling, tourism services, warehousing, retail and agro-processing”, he said.

Ramsaroop further pointed out that Guyana's growing agriculture sector is opening the door to joint ventures and regional tie-ups, with longer-term prospects in fertiliser output and industrial processing as the country builds out its energy and logistics platform.