A survey released this Thursday (4) by the Brazil-China Business Council (CEBC) revealed that the Asian country's investments in Brazil in 2024 were strongly driven by the electricity and renewable energy sectors.
The electricity sector led the way in attracting capital, receiving US$1,43 billion, a 115% increase compared to 2023. The number of Chinese sustainability and green energy projects last year reached 27 in the country – the highest number ever recorded in a single year since the historical series began in 2007.
The study, titled "Chinese Investments in Brazil 2024: Reindustrialization and Energy Transition," highlights that the electricity sector alone accounted for 34% of the total US$4,18 billion invested by China in Brazil in 2024. The growth in this area compared to the previous year was the largest relative advance recorded since 2019.
Considering the cumulative investment between 2007 and 2024, the electricity sector is the one that absorbed the most Chinese capital, with 45% of the total value of US$77,5 billion, followed by the oil sector (29%). When analyzed by number of projects in the same period, the sector also leads, with 41% of the 303 confirmed projects.
Companies such as China Three Gorges (CTG), CPFL Energia – which was acquired in 2017 by State Grid – and SPIC (State Power Investment Corporation) have consistently invested in Brazil since entering the national market in the 2010s, not only in hydroelectric power, but increasingly in other renewable sources, particularly solar and wind power.
CGN (China General Nuclear), in turn, also expanded its presence with the start of construction on its first greenfield solar park in Ceará.
Chinese investments in electricity and renewable energy are characterized by the predominance of projects involving the creation of new ventures or the expansion of the production capacity of existing facilities.
In 2024, projects in the electricity sector included the modernization of hydroelectric plants and the construction of new wind and solar farms. This trend reflects the maturation of long-term investments by Chinese companies in the country, which now focus more on expanding and modernizing assets than on new acquisitions.
CEBC's analysis highlights that the energy transition is a strategic pillar for Chinese investors. These initiatives accounted for 69% of all Chinese projects in Brazil this year, the second-highest share in history, trailing only the record 72% recorded in 2023.
China's renewed interest in extracting strategic minerals in Brazil is also directly linked to the decarbonization value chain. These resources are essential for the production of clean energy technologies, such as batteries, electrified vehicles, and electrical transmission infrastructure.
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