Brazilian Financial Environment
From:Office of Economic Affairs in Brazil
2020-05-14
1. Local currency
Brazil's currency is the Real, also known as the black.
Brazil imposes stricter controls on foreign exchange. Foreign enterprises or individuals (except those with diplomatic privileges, individuals or approved enterprises) cannot open foreign exchange accounts in Brazilian Banks. Foreign exchange must be converted into local currency before it can be withdrawn. The real is the only common currency in the market. However, foreign exchange trading is relatively free. At present, Brazil has two legal foreign exchange markets: the trade foreign exchange market and the tourism foreign exchange market. They are regulated by the central bank and have floating exchange rates.
"Trade exchange rate", also known as "financial exchange rate", is free floating. The exchange rate is mainly used for:
(1) For foreign exchange in import and export trade, foreign exchange may be purchased by virtue of import license or valid foreign trade contract;
(2) the exchange of foreign currencies for investment into Brazil;
(3) foreign currency loans of Brazilian natural or legal persons;
(4) other foreign exchange transfers approved by the Brazilian foreign exchange administration. The "tourism exchange rate", which is also freely floating, is mainly used for foreign exchange in the tourism industry.
Access to Brazil's "exchange rate for trade" requires prior approval from the central bank, while the use of Brazil's "exchange rate for tourism" does not require such approval.
Exchange operations are carried out through foreign exchange contracts. In addition, Brazil has a "parallel market" in foreign exchange, a black market in which newspapers publish daily prices. At present, the exchange rate is close to the official foreign exchange market price.
Change in exchange rate of the Baht against the US dollar since 2006 in real/US dollar
Year/month/day
Black-market dollars
Trade dollars
Tourism dollars
Buy to sell
Buy to sell
Buy to sell
06/06/30
2.3000 2.4000
2.1640 2.1670
2.1050 2.2550
06/09/29
2.1690 2.1710
2.1150 2.2650
2.2300 2.3300
06/12/29
2.1372 2.1380
2.0850 2.2350
2.2800 2.3800
07/03/30
2.0430 2.0450
1.9900 2.1500
2.1800 2.2800
07/06/29
1.9270 1.9290
1.9000 2.0400
1.9900 2.0900
07/09/28
1.8320 1.8340
1.7900 1.9500
2.0200 2.1000
07/12/28
1.7750 1.7770
1.7400 1.8900
1.8400 1.9500
08/03/31
1.7510 1.7530
1.7100 1.8500
1.8100 1.9100
08/06/30
1.5950 1.5970
1.5600 1.7000
1.7100 1.8100
08/08/01
1.5570 1.5590
1.5200 1.6700
1.6800 1.7800
08/09/30
1.9020 1.9040
1.8800 2.0600
1.9000 2.1000
08/12/04
2.5340 2.5360
2.3400 2.6600
2.2500 2.5000
08/12/30
2.3320 2.3340
2.1800 2.4500
2.3000 2.5000
09/03/31
2.3160 2.3180
2.1900 2.4300
2.3000 2.5000
09/04/20
2.2420 2.2440
2.1300 2.3600
2.2500 2.4000