Paraguay May Be a Key Distribution Hub for Brazil’s Vaping Market: Monthly Imports Near US$10 Millio

According to logistics providers, Brazil's vaping market is huge, but sales bans have made customs clearance procedures quite complicated. In most cases, logistics providers prefer to ship goods first to neighboring Paraguay and then smuggle them into the Brazilian market.

【2Firsts Original】In September 2023, China's total exports of vaping products to Paraguay reached US$9.24 million, with a corresponding export volume of 175 tons. 

However, Paraguay's population is only 6.78 million. Compared with Belgium, which has a population of more than 11 million, Paraguay's import value was about US$1 million higher—Belgium's figure was only 8.26 million yuan. 

In September, China's total exports of vaping products to Paraguay reached US$9.24 million | Image source: 2Firsts

It is worth noting that not all vaping products exported to Belgium are sold in that market. As a major vaping distribution hub in Europe, Belgium imports vaping products that also cover key markets such as Germany and France. Based on this, it can be inferred that Paraguay—with a smaller population but higher import value—may also serve as a transit hub for vaping products. 

It is understood that Paraguay is one of the few countries in South America that has not imposed a sales ban on vaping products, while neighboring Brazil, with a population of 215 million, is a major country with a huge vaping market. However, due to the country's sales ban on vaping products, its imports of vaping products from China in September were only US$4.21 million. 

Paraguay's geographic location | Image source: Internet

According to logistics providers, Brazil's vaping market is huge, but sales bans have made customs clearance procedures quite complicated. In most cases, logistics providers prefer to ship goods first to neighboring Paraguay and then smuggle them into the Brazilian market. 

Meanwhile, media reports in both Paraguay and Brazil frequently cover cases involving the smuggling of vaping products from Paraguay into Brazil. 

Logistics providers said that in the South American market, only vaping products destined for Brazil are typically routed through Paraguay first.