Bauducco
- State
- Florida
- Investment
- US$200M
Its largest U.S. plant, in Zephyrhills near Tampa, began operating in 2026 and brings its wafers under a "Made in USA" label. Later phases are planned for 2028 and 2030, with up to about 600 jobs.
Investment · Article
US$37.9 billion already invested: what the Brazilian companies growing in the U.S. are doing differently
Brazil's direct investment position in the United States reached US$37.9 billion in 2024, and Brazilian companies already produce in at least 23 states. We map where they are, in which sectors, who leads and what recent cases teach companies deciding whether to enter.
US$37.9bn
Brazilian direct investment position in the U.S. in 2024, by ultimate owner
BEA, via SelectUSA
~97k
U.S. jobs supported by Brazilian-owned affiliates, the most of any Latin American country
SelectUSA
2,962
Brazilian companies with some form of investment in the U.S.
CNI, 2025
23
U.S. states with at least one productive plant of a Brazilian company
CNI, 2025
Executive summary
- Brazil is already a relevant investor in the U.S. Official U.S. data put the Brazilian direct investment position at US$37.9 billion in 2024, up 19% on 2023, and Brazilian-owned affiliates support almost 97,000 American jobs, more than those of any other Latin American country.
- The presence is broad, not limited to a few large groups. CNI counts 2,962 Brazilian companies with investments in the U.S. and at least 70 with productive operations in 23 states, led by Florida (12) and Georgia (7), followed by an industrial belt in the Midwest.
- Food and beverages lead in capital; software leads in number of projects. Food and beverages account for 22.8% of the Brazilian investment mapped by CNI, ahead of plastics, consumer products, software and metals. By number of announced projects, software and IT services come first.
- The 2026 cases point to two drivers: proximity to the U.S. customer and the build-out of energy infrastructure. With the new tariffs, local production has also become a hedge against import duties.
How much Brazil has invested in the U.S.
Two measures coexist. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, which attributes each affiliate to its ultimate owner, puts the Brazilian position at US$37.9 billion in 2024. CNI, using a different method, estimates US$22.1 billion, up 52.3% in ten years. The ultimate-owner view also counts Brazilian investment routed through holding companies in third countries.
The position fell in 2022 and has grown again since, with net inflows of US$1.9 billion in 2023 and US$0.7 billion in 2024. The relationship is two-way: U.S. investment in Brazil reached US$88.0 billion.
Exhibit 1
Brazilian direct investment position in the U.S., by ultimate owner (US$ billion)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, via SelectUSA (Aug 2025).
Exhibit 2
Direct investment positions between the U.S. and Brazil, 2024 (US$ billion)
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, via SelectUSA. Brazil in the U.S. by ultimate owner.
Where they are
Florida concentrates the largest number of Brazilian plants, followed by Georgia and an industrial belt in the Midwest. Our reading: proximity to Brazil and ports explains Florida and the Southeast; the Midwest attracts industrial and food producers for its suppliers, logistics and customers.
Exhibit 3
U.S. states with the most Brazilian companies operating productive plants
Source: CNI (Jul 2025). Highlighted: the eight states detailed by CNI; at least 15 other states host one or more plants.
In which sectors
Capital is concentrated in food and beverages. By number of projects, the profile is more diverse: SelectUSA ranks software and IT services first, followed by financial services, food and beverages, business services, chemicals and communications.
Exhibit 4
Brazilian investment in the U.S. by sector (% of the total mapped)
Source: CNI (Jul 2025), based on fDi Markets. The balance is calculated as the remainder of the sectors detailed.
Who leads
Seventy Brazilian companies announced projects in the U.S. between 2020 and 2025. The five largest add up to almost US$2 billion and span food, energy, steel and aerospace.
Exhibit 5
Largest Brazilian investments announced in the U.S., 2020–2025 (US$ million)
Source: CNI (Jul 2025), based on fDi Markets.
Recent cases
Four moves that show the logic behind Brazilian production in the U.S.
TSEA Energy
- State
- North Carolina
- Investment
- US$25M
First U.S. factory, in Eden, making voltage regulators for the power grid, with about 160 jobs and production from the fourth quarter of 2026. The state grant is tied to investment and hiring targets.
WEG
- State
- Missouri
- Investment
- US$77M
Expansion of its transformer plant in Washington, Missouri, raising capacity by 50% to serve industry, the grid and data centers. In 2026 it announced US$165 million more for generators in North America.
Embraer
- State
- Texas
- Investment
- US$70M
Aircraft maintenance center in Texas with 250 planned jobs, close to the customers who operate its fleet in the U.S.
What the cases teach
Our analysis of the cases above, for companies weighing a U.S. operation.
- Choose the state for the operation, not for familiarity: logistics, labor, energy cost and incentives vary widely from one state to another.
- Treat incentives as conditional. State grants usually depend on investment and hiring targets met over several years.
- Use local production as a tariff hedge. A product made in the U.S. does not pay import duty; the imported components do.
- Follow U.S. infrastructure spending. Power grids and data centers are creating demand that Brazilian industrial suppliers already serve.
In the press and among analysts
Food Business News · 2026Bauducco launches its biggest U.S. manufacturing facilityPlant in Florida doubles the company's U.S. production capacity.T&D World · Mar 2026Brazilian manufacturer to set up a voltage regulator plant in North CarolinaTSEA targets utilities modernizing the U.S. grid.Forbes Brasil · Sep 2025WEG to invest US$77 million to expand U.S. transformer output by 50%Demand from data centers and grid stability drives the expansion.Portal da Indústria (CNI) · Jul 2025Brazilian investment in the U.S. grew 52.3% in a decadeCNI maps Brazilian companies producing in at least 23 states.
We assess where and how your company should operate in the U.S., with numbers.
About this article
Prepared by the Marroffino & Partners team of specialists in strategy and U.S. market entry.
To discuss these findings for your company, write to us or book a conversation with a partner.
Methodology and sources
Figures come from official U.S. data (BEA via SelectUSA), from CNI's mapping based on fDi Markets, and from company announcements reported by the trade press, checked on October 23, 2026. Where measures differ (BEA and CNI estimate the investment stock differently), both are shown.
- SelectUSA: Brazil country fact sheet (BEA and fDi Markets data, Aug 2025)
- SelectUSA: 2025 Brazil Roadshow (jobs supported by Brazilian-owned affiliates)
- CNI: Brazilian investment in the U.S. grew 52.3% in a decade (Jul 24, 2025)
- Food Business News: Bauducco launches biggest U.S. manufacturing facility
- Plant Services: Bauducco Foods invests $200M in Florida
- T&D World: TSEA voltage regulator plant in North Carolina
- Carolina Journal: state grants back new Brazilian energy plant in Eden
- Forbes Brasil: WEG transformer expansion in the U.S.
- Cenário Energia: WEG US$165 million generator expansion in North America
This article is for information only and reflects public data available on October 23, 2026. It is not legal, tax or investment advice. Company figures are as announced and may change.