The Growth of Multinational Companies in Brazil

An increasing number of Brazilian companies have been expanding internationally since the turn of the 21st century. They have shifted their international strategy from relying solely on exports to becoming foreign investors. These organizations are currently prioritizing their operations in neighboring South American nations. Initially, Argentina capitalized on this trend; however, the Pacific Alliance nations (Chile, Colombia, and Peru) are also drawing an increasing amount of Brazilian capital. Global foreign direct investment (FDI) was historically characterized by two factors: 1) the high level of investment flows between developed countries and 2) the reality that developing countries were essentially hosts of FDI. These factors persisted throughout the 20th century. Since the dawn of the 21st century, this situation has undergone substantial transformation. One the one hand, the proportion of developing countries in total FDI inflows increased from 29.4 percent to 53.6 percent between 2007 and 2013, following the 2008 financial crisis.

The crisis's severe reduction of FDI flows toward developed countries is a significant factor in the explanation of this evolution

In 2013, these fluxes accounted for only 43% of the total for 2007. In this context, the significance of developing countries is also derived from the absolute value development of the flows directed to those countries, which was 32% higher in 2013 than it was prior to the crisis (2007). Conversely, developing nations also served as the origin of FDI outflows. Compared to a mere 15% in 2005, developing countries accounted for nearly one-third of global FDI outflows in 2013. This expansion was facilitated by both private and public large corporate groups from developing countries. The global investment environment is being transformed by Brazilian companies. Brazil has historically been a significant recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI); however, in recent years, it has received nearly US$60 billion annually. Brazil has played a significant role in the growing significance of developing countries as FDI destinations, as evidenced by the substantial level of FDI inflows. Nevertheless, the internationalization of a group of significant companies has resulted in a new phenomenon in Brazil: the increase in investment flows abroad (FDI outflows). In contrast to China, the leaders of this process are private groups that are firmly consolidated in the domestic market and have a long-standing export tradition, rather than state-run companies.

This phenomenon should not be overstated, as evidenced by a comparison of outflows from Brazil with those from other emergent countries. Brazil remains a minor participant in the realm of FDI outflows, even among emerging economies. In comparison to China, India, and even lesser economies like Turkey, the nation occupies a marginal position. Brazil's net outflows of FDI from 2010 to 2013 were a mere US$4.2 billion, a significant decline from the US$38 billion, US$8.2 billion, US$10.9 billion, and US$59.3 billion of other emergent countries, including India, South Africa, Turkey, and Malaysia. During the same period, China's FDI outflows reached an impressive US$312 billion.

A number of factors could be responsible for this underperformance

The historical protectionism of Brazil's trade and industrial policies, which remains robust, and public policy disincentives to the internationalization of production, such as the tax system on the profits of Brazilian multinationals, are among these. Close to 100 Brazilian companies from a variety of sectors initiated the internationalization process, despite these factors. Some have made substantial progress in this direction and are currently present in over a dozen countries. South America has witnessed a significant increase in the presence of substantial Brazilian corporations, despite their limited number. The establishment of Mercosur significantly increased Brazilian exports to neighboring countries after South American countries, including Brazil, overcame the "lost decade" of the 1980s, stabilized their economies, and initiated economic integration initiatives.One It is important to note that Brazil exports primarily industrial products to the region, in contrast to the agricultural and mining commodities that have become the primary focus of the country's global exports. This advantageous regional environment has undergone a transformation in recent years. Argentina, the primary market in the region and the primary associate of Brazil in Mercosur, is currently experiencing a protracted economic crisis. The Andean countries expanded their trade agreements with countries outside the region, such as the United States, the European Union, and China. The trade preferences that have been advantageous to Brazil in the markets of the region are progressively eroding, and Brazilian exports of manufactured goods have lost their competitiveness in the regional markets. Brazilian investment in the region began to increase prior to the adverse effects of these factors on exports to South America, as a result of the presence of large corporations with a long history of exporting products. South America was the preferable geographic option for the majority of Brazilian companies that decided to internationalize their production for their first subsidiary. In 2014, South America was the preferred destination for investment in their first subsidiary abroad, as indicated by 52 percent of Brazilian multinational companies featured in the ranking established by Fundação Dom Cabral. North America was the second most popular choice, with 33.3 percent. In 2007, the National Confederation of Industry of Brazil conducted a study that identified Argentina and Chile as the primary investment markets for Brazilian industrial companies during the initial years of the century.

The primary motivations for Brazilian investment in Argentina

Were the country's robust economic recovery from the 2001–2002 crisis and the potential of its domestic market, which is characterized by a high percentage of middle-class consumers. The study attributed Brazilian companies' investments in Chile to the "friendly regulatory environment and the discipline and stability of rules" that the country provides. Access to the domestic markets of South American countries and to natural resources became the main drivers of Brazilian investment as the destination diversified in the region. In the context of consumer and intermediate products, Brazilian investment is primarily achieved through the acquisition of local companies and trademarks.Four There is a growing number of greenfield initiatives in the realm of natural resources. The credit crunch that ensued from the international financial crisis and the subsequent decline in economic development in the region, which reached its lowest point in 2009, both significantly impacted the dynamics of Brazilian investment in South America. Nevertheless, Brazilian investment in South America experienced a resurgence in 2010. Three countries were preferred by these investments: Peru, Colombia, and Argentina. In Argentina, certain companies made investments to maintain their presence in a market that was becoming increasingly safeguarded by government trade policies. Investment became a strategy for these organizations to surmount the tariff and non-tariff barriers that the Argentinian government was imposing at an increasing rate. In the livestock production and mining sectors, other organizations pursued access to natural resources. However, Peru emerged as the top performer during that period, as it received two of the three most significant investments in the region by Brazilian corporations during the post-crisis period. The initial investment was US$566 million from Vale do Rio Doce, while the subsequent investment was US$420 million from Votorantim. Both investments were associated with the extraction of energy and natural resources.