Bilateral trade between Brazil and Guyana reached about US$800 million in the first eight months of 2026, a 25 per cent increase on the same period last year.

Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana Maria Cristina de Castro Martins told the World Trade Centre Georgetown International Trade and Investment Conference 2026 that trade between the two countries exceeded US$1 billion for three consecutive years, from 2023 to 2025.

"Trade between Brazil and Guyana has reached a new level," she said.
However, she noted that the trade remains heavily influenced by Guyana's crude oil exports, and called for greater diversification, particularly in agriculture, food processing, logistics and technology.

The five-day conference coincides with the first anniversary of the official opening of the World Trade Centre Georgetown. It brings together policymakers, investors, business leaders and international partners, and highlights opportunities to strengthen commercial ties between Guyana, Brazil, Belize and St Kitts and Nevis.

The call for diversification echoed remarks by CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett, who told the conference on Monday that the Caribbean Community wants stronger regional production, diversified exports and improved trade systems. She said global uncertainty, rising shipping costs and supply chain disruptions are placing pressure on Caribbean economies.

Barnett said the international trade environment is becoming more uncertain amid tariff changes, conflicts and disruptions on major shipping routes, which have raised shipping and energy costs.

She added that CARICOM's merchandise exports have risen over the past five years, but much of the growth was driven by energy and commodities, while the region continues to import significant quantities of food, manufactured goods and capital equipment.

"The challenge, therefore, is not only to increase exports, but to broaden the productive base from which those exports come," Barnett said.

To that end, she identified agriculture, agro-processing, renewable energy, tourism, transportation, logistics and communications as areas offering opportunities for investment and regional development. She also stressed the need to make cross-border business easier through improved payment systems, access to financing and greater regulatory certainty