21 Brazilian companies have embarked to expand relations between the converted plastics sector and the continent.
As part of its strategy to strengthen trade relations with the African continent, Think Plastic Brazil, a portfolio of solutions for the plastic-converted products sector in the process of internationalization to target markets, implemented through a partnership between ApexBrasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) and INP (Brazilian Plastic Institute), hosted a business mission to South Africa from June 17 to 20, 2025, bringing together 21 Brazilian companies for business meetings. As a direct result of the mission, US$910,000 in business were generated, with a projection of US$5 million for the next 12 months.
“The African markets occupy a strategic position in the process of geographic diversification of exports in the converted plastics sector. Currently, more than 95% of exports are concentrated in the Americas, which represents a structural risk in terms of regional dependence. In this context, Africa emerges as a promising frontier, with concrete opportunities for commercial integration due to its young population, accelerated growth, and increased demand for manufactured products. From a strategic perspective, the African continent represents, for the companies supported by the Think Plastic Brazil Portfolio, what Latin America represented in previous decades: a growing market with strong potential for medium- and long-term relationships,” explains Carlos Moreira, INP Executive Director and Think Plastic Brazil CPO.
Throughout the event, 255 business meetings were held with 251 new contacts from eight countries: South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The participating Brazilian companies are from the housewares, construction, toys and childcare, and plastics industries.
During the mission, technical visits were made to Big 5 companies and retail stores in the housewares sector, where the Brazilian companies held meetings with their management. Carlos Moreira, INP Executive Director and Think Plastic Brazil CPO, and our market specialists, Daniela Ornelas and Cristina Sacramento, also accompanied the group of companies on guided tours, in stores, and at a large distributor of hardware and agribusiness supplies operating in South Africa and the sub-Saharan region.
Finally, the team, composed of Carlos Moreira, Daniela Ornelas, and Cristina Sacramento, was welcomed at the Brazilian Embassy in South Africa by Benedicto Fonseca Filho, Brazilian Ambassador to Pretoria; Carlos Vitor Müller, Agricultural Attaché; and Bruno Leite, diplomat. During the visit, they discussed the upcoming Mission to the region in 2026, the potential of the sector as the fifth largest in the world, and the importance of investing in innovation, design, and sustainability. They also presented the Color Trend 2026®, a guide to colors and trends in plastics, and the International Yearbook 2025, an updated catalog of Brazilian companies that brings together Think Plastic Brazil members in the converted plastics sector and is an excellent showcase for buyers and partners.
Think Plastic Brazil at the Brazilian Embassy in South Africa Photo: Think Plastic Brazil
WEBINAR
Think Plastic Brazil will host the webinar “Eyes on Africa: What We Experienced and Learned at the Africa Trade Mission” on July 17th, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, on the Teams platform. The objective of the virtual meeting is to present the main results, lessons learned, and challenges overcome by the companies that participated in the Africa Trade Mission, to provide insights into the business potential of the African continent, market profiles, and future opportunities for Brazilian companies. It will also include an interactive session to answer questions with experts and representatives of the companies that participated in the mission.
About Think Plastic Brazil
Think Plastic Brazil started its activities with 38 companies and, over the last 20 years, has expanded its participation to more than 250 companies. During this period, the Portfolio promoted 4,773 participations of companies in the industry in 240 projects specifically for Trade Promotion, resulting in 64,366 meetings. The economic impact was significant, with more than US$1.247 billion in business generated and a total investment of US$12.338 million, achieving an impressive ROI of US$101.04 for every dollar invested.
For those interested in buying from Brazil and contacting Brazilian companies associated with Think Plastic Brazil directly, please contact cristina.sacramento@thinkplasticbrazil.com and daniela.ornelas@thinkplasticbrazil.com via email or visit the website (https://thinkplasticbrazil.com/en/home-en/). Think Plastic Brazil is a non-profit, non-commissioned organization that can facilitate your direct contact with Brazilian producers.
About INP
Founded in 1989, the Brazilian Plastic Institute – INP arises amid the process of globalization and the need to make the plastic market more competitive internationally. Its strength and representativeness are the results of the union of the Brazilian Processed Plastic and Recycling Industry (ABIPLAST), the Brazilian Association of the Chemical Industry (ABIQUIM), and the Union of Synthetic Resin Industries in the State of São Paulo (SIRESP).
As a sectoral technological body, the INP’s is to be the focal point for the entire plastics production chain in Brazil. To this end, the body maintains an extensive workforce qualification program, promotes access to the most modern technologies, especially for small and medium-sized companies, and develops Technical Standards so that products with better quality be manufactured.
About ApexBrasil
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) promotes Brazilian products and services abroad and attracts foreign investments to strategic industries of the Brazilian economy. To reach its goals, ApexBrasil carries out diversified trade promotion actions aimed at promoting exports and valuing Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and trade missions, business roundtables, support for the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, and visits by foreign buyers and influencers to learn about the Brazilian productive structure, among other business platforms that are also focused on strengthening “Brazil” as a brand.
The agency also acts in a coordinated manner with public and private actors to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil, focusing on strategic sectors for the development of the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country.
