How to Export to Brazil - Sprint Lazio

IV.4.4. Opening a sales office in Brazil
Brazil – Ministry of External Relations
In a broader sales strategy, it is possible that the exporter will wish to set up their own
structure in the Brazilian market by opening an office for contacts with potential direct
or indirect importers. If this office is also intended for import operations, it should be
constituted as a commercial company.
There are no administrative, currency or customs restrictions to open a branch of a
foreign company on national soil and it can be constituted with the participation of
Brazilian or foreign partners. The branch is considered a national company, for
commercial, fiscal, legal and public registration purposes.
Brazilian employees are supported by the existing labor legislation as well as foreign
employees who have fixed residence in Brazil. The same does not apply to foreigners
in the country on a temporary basis, only to perform professional activities pertaining
to the commercial objectives of the branch.
From the viewpoint of currency exchange, the Central Bank imposes no restriction on
the entry of foreign currency for office maintenance or for remittals resulting from
profit and dividend, pursuant to the procedures that apply to each case.
It must be noted that it is customary in Brazil for offices to be installed in office
buildings, usually located in downtown areas or in residential zones that are specifically
authorized for such purpose. Therefore, such norms have to be observed when renting
an office as well as other specific restrictions, such as if there will be movement of
merchandise on the premises.
IV.5. Import logistics
The logistics practiced in Brazilian import operations are primarily of a maritime nature.
Air and land transportation also have some importance, but railroad use is still
incipient.
IV.5.1. Sea transportation
A great deal of the movement of goods between South American countries takes
place by sea, whose routes cover the main ports: La Guaíra (Venezuela), Barranquilla
(Colombia), Guayaquil (Ecuador) Callao (Peru), Valparaiso (Chile), Buenos Aires
(Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay) and the Brazilian ports of Rio Grande (Rio Grande
do Sul), Rio de Janeiro, Santos (São Paulo), Vitória (Espírito Santo), Salvador (Bahia),
Suape (Pernambuco), Fortaleza (Ceará) and Belém (Pará).
These routes are often used by established transportation companies, with the duration
of journeys varying according to the location of the port of origin on the Pacific coast
in relation to the destination of the cargo in a Brazilian port. Between the ports of
Callao and Santos, for example, the journey lasts for a maximum of 15 days.
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