Plastic waste exports in Brazil
Brazil: Plastic waste exports was 8,988 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
8,988 tonnes
Change on year
up 43.6%
World rank
46th
of 167 countries
All-time high
9,905 tonnes
in 2003
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 2001
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Plastic waste exports in Brazil, 1989–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Brazil recorded 8,988 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2024.
The figure is up 43.6% on the previous year and up 53.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Brazil peaked at 9,905 tonnes in 2003 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 2001.
That places Brazil 46th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Brazil, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 5,180 tonnes | — |
| 1990 | 1,451 tonnes | -72.0% |
| 1991 | 587.73 tonnes | -59.5% |
| 1992 | 467.16 tonnes | -20.5% |
| 1993 | 671.06 tonnes | +43.6% |
| 1994 | 431.99 tonnes | -35.6% |
| 1995 | 1,258 tonnes | +191.3% |
| 1996 | 3,528 tonnes | +180.4% |
| 1997 | 940.26 tonnes | -73.3% |
| 1998 | 254.63 tonnes | -72.9% |
| 1999 | 1,099 tonnes | +331.6% |
| 2000 | 4,689 tonnes | +326.7% |
| 2001 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2002 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2003 | 9,905 tonnes | — |
| 2004 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2005 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2006 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2007 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2008 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2009 | 3,946 tonnes | — |
| 2010 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2011 | 5,732 tonnes | — |
| 2012 | 5,193 tonnes | -9.4% |
| 2013 | 3,389 tonnes | -34.7% |
| 2014 | 5,870 tonnes | +73.2% |
| 2015 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2016 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 2017 | 7,377 tonnes | — |
| 2018 | 2,271 tonnes | -69.2% |
| 2019 | 2,383 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 2,353 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 2,301 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 3,499 tonnes | +52.1% |
| 2023 | 6,258 tonnes | +78.8% |
| 2024 | 8,988 tonnes | +43.6% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 8,988 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 8.4× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Brazil's 8,988 tonnes is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1,293 tonnes, 7.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5,180 tonnes | 5,180 tonnes | 5,180 tonnes | 1 |
| 1990s | 1,069 tonnes | 254.63 tonnes | 3,528 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,854 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 9,905 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,222 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 7,377 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,680 tonnes | 2,301 tonnes | 8,988 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More environment data for Brazil
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -6.93 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -8.24 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.221 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.36 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.155 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -2.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Brazil?
- Plastic waste exports in Brazil was 8,988 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 9,905 tonnes in 2003.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 2001.
- How does Brazil rank for plastic waste exports?
- Brazil ranks 46th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Brazil data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.