Question

Regarding Brazil:

Geographic Influences

Identify geographic factors (climate, terrain, waterways) that influence business activities in Brazil. (In some countries, mountains make movement of raw materials and production supplies difficult and expensive.)

Describe the country’s:

• main natural resources and agricultural products,
• major industries,
• major imports, and
• major exports.

(A country’s natural resources and agricultural products are the basis for foreign investment and exporting activities.)

Answer 1

                                    Brazil is the world’s 9th largest economy and 8th largest in terms of PPP whose GDP per capita is approximately $16,000. Tourism and various dedicated industries have been the backbone of Brazilian economy. There are various factors that influences the investment patterns in an economy and in Brazil, let us analyse the various geographical factors that have attributed to the same.

Geographical factors influencing business activities in Brazil

· The presence of Amazon forest and the waterways surrounding it has helped in the expansion of various related industries in the area.

· Even though only 5% of the land is cultivated, Brazil is the world’s leading coffee producer and produces more than one-tenth of cattle supply and one-fifth of iron.

· The sugarcane production has been influenced by the climatic geography of Brazil on a large scale.

· Human geographical features have been instrumental in the expansion of automobile industry of Brazil.

· The country borders are suitable for trade and related opportunities which have helped in the expansion of industries and business activities

Major natural resources and Agricultural products of Brazil

· As discussed earlier, Brazil is a leading producer of coffee in the world having an annual production of about million

· The major natural resources of Brazil include Bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese and rare earth elements like uranium

· Timber has been a potential resource in Brazil due to the availability of large potential area surrounding Amazon forest

· The other major agricultural products include sugar cane, corn, cassava, soya bean, cotton, tobacco and cocoa.

Major Industries of Brazil

· The location of industries and its expansion depends on the natural resource availability and various other factors that influences its production

· Taking in to consideration the above, the major industries of Brazil are Iron and steel production, automobile assembly, petroleum processing, cement making, chemical production etc

· Since tourism is a relevant sector in Brazil, there are various related small-scale industries surrounding the tourism sector of the nation.

· The presence of various natural and agricultural resources have influenced the formation of various attached industries.

Major Exports and imports of Brazil

· Soya bean and coffee remains the leading export items of Brazil.

· The various other leading export items are Iron ore, crude petroleum, raw sugar and cars

· Manufactured good forms almost 85% of the imports of Brazil namely fuels and lubricants, petroleum, chemicals etc

· The other major imports are Coal, Natural gas and Wheat grains.