Over 50% of imported loaders were originally from China
In 2024, Brazil imported over 19000 loaders, with a total value of nearly 780 million US dollars. Overall, the import market remained stable in 2024, with a peak in May when the monthly import quantity exceeded 2,000 units and amounted to nearly 100 million US dollars. Equipment from the Asia Pacific region (APAC), mainly from China, dominated the Brazilian loader import market. The number of loaders originating from China accounted for over 60%, and the amount accounted for over 50%. It was worth noting that among the Chinese made equipment imported by Brazil, in addition to international brands such as Doosan Bobcat and Caterpillar-SEM produced in China, Chinese brands accounted for more than half, with main brands including LiuGong and Zoomlion.
By brand, Doosan Bobcat, Caterpillar-SEM, and JCB were the top three importers of loaders, accounting for approximately 40%. The top three brands in terms of import value were Doosan Bobcat, JCB, and Caterpillar-SEM, accounting for nearly 40% of the total value. From the perspective of the country of origin, the imported Doosan Bobcat loaders mainly come from production bases located in China and the Czech Republic. The imported JCB loaders were not only produced in the UK production base, but also in its factories in India and the United States. The loaders of Caterpillar-SEM were all equipment produced in China. In addition, Brazilian domestic brand FORZA BR also ranks among the top ten imported brands, but the imported FORZA BR brand loaders were mainly produced by Chinese enterprises under OEM. In terms of machine models, the main models of imported loaders in Brazil in 2024 were mainly small equipment, such as Doosan Bobcat's S450 skid steer loader, Mountain Machinery's SEM618D, and JCB's JCB 1CX excavator loader.
Over 90% of loaders exported to the Americas
In 2024, Brazil exported over 14000 loaders to nearly 90 countries worldwide, with a total value of nearly 1.12 billion US dollars. Exports reached their peak in October, with over 1,500 units exported and a value of nearly 120 million US dollars. The Americas region is Brazil's most important export destination, accounting for approximately 90% of both the quantity and amount of exports, with the United States being the largest single market, accounting for over 40% of both the quantity and amount. As the largest export destination for Brazilian loaders, the US's announcement of equivalent tariff policies in April this year may have a certain impact on Brazilian loader exports.
From a brand perspective, Caterpillar holds the top spot among Brazilian export brands with a share of around 50% in terms of export quantity and value. As early as the 1960s, Caterpillar began localizing production in Brazil and has continued to invest in modernizing its factories, such as the Piracicaba plant, in recent years. In addition to Caterpillar, CNH Industrial also achieved localized production in Brazil earlier, while JCB, although only entered the Brazilian market in 2001, has also achieved localized production and occupies a certain share in the Brazilian loader export market.