Trajetória recente do investimento direto chinês no Brasil: concentração setorial, modos de ingresso e potencial estratégico (2017–2023)

Alice Sabino Pereira; Kaio Vital da Costa

doi:10.52292/j.estudecon.2026.5519

Authors

Alice Sabino Pereira Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7905-3107
Kaio Vital da Costa Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9390-0555

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52292/j.estudecon.2026.5519

Keywords:

Foreign direct investments, internationalization of companies, multinational companies

Abstract

This study analyzes the trajectory of Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) in Brazil between 2017 and 2023, based on the harmonization of public data sources. This approach addresses limitations of official statistics, such as high aggregation and geographic distortions, and improves sectoral analysis by classifying investments according to the Brazilian system of national accounts. Five key characteristics of Chinese FDI in Brazil emerge during the period: (i) total investments of US$ 31.6 billion, largely concentrated in high-value projects; (ii) oscillatory investment flows; (iii) predominance of mergers and acquisitions as the entry mode, mainly targeting the industrial sector; (iv) recent growth in the renewable energy and electric vehicle sectors; and (v) the potential of these investments to reinforce Brazil’s powershoring advantage.

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