Latest news with #economia
Bloomberg
03-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Petrobras Boosts Lula's Economic Agenda With Refining Investment
Brazil's state-controlled oil producer Petrobras announced on Thursday about 30 billion reais ($5.5 billion) in refining and petrochemicals investments in Rio de Janeiro state that align with the government's wider plan to create jobs and accelerate economic growth. The group of investments focus on producing renewable fuels and improving energy efficiency. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will travel to Rio on Friday for an official announcement of the projects that could create more than 38,000 jobs, according to the company.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brazil's reshaping of the Latin American subscription economy
Brazil has quietly built one of the most successful real-time payment systems in the world over the past five years. Launched in late 2020 by the Central Bank of Brazil, Pix enables instant, free payments between individuals and businesses. Today, over two-thirds of the Brazilian population use Pix regularly, with people saying 'Pix me' instead of 'pay me back', and surpassing both credit and debit cards in transaction volume according to the Central Bank. Pix is now taking a significant step forward in the recurring payments space with the introduction of Pix Automático, a major upgrade that enables automated, pre-approved recurring payments. Building on the success of Pix, this new feature introduces a streamlined experience for subscription-based services and recurring charges. It promises to elevate an already trusted and efficient payment method into a powerful tool for sustained digital commerce, providing a blueprint for other countries in Latin America and beyond to follow. As Brazil's economy has modernised, more and more international companies that rely on subscription services have entered the South American country. In fact, subscription box services alone generate over $170 million annually. But until now, recurring payments typically relied on manual processes. With just 40% of Brazilians owning a credit card -and over 75% using Pix-, subscriptions must be paid manually every month using Pix or Boleto Bancário. Pix Automatico is set to reflect the adaptability and success of Pix in a card-scarce environment. It's a natural next step as a technical evolution that brings automation, simplicity, and reliability to recurring payments, all while building on the strong consumer trust Pix already enjoys. Pix Automático changes the equation. It allows consumers to authorise recurring debits directly from their existing bank or wallet accounts, eliminating the need for credit cards, repeated QR code scans, or monthly reminders. The process begins with a one-time enrolment, often via QR code or app interface, which serves solely to authorise future charges. The result is a smoother, more trustworthy experience that remains user-controlled through opt-in and cancellation features. For businesses, the implications are enormous. It offers them a more predictable cash flow, lower churn, and higher customer lifetime value, especially important in a market where flexibility and simplicity are key. Now, companies that rely on subscription models can reach Brazil's large unbanked and underbanked populations—people who were previously excluded from the digital economy due to a lack of access to traditional banking. Neobanks like Nubank (with over 104 million customers across Latin America) and Banco Inter (30 million in Brazil) offer simple, accessible alternatives. Digital wallets such as PicPay and Mercado Pago are also widely used, helping millions manage money and make payments without a traditional bank. For these consumers, Pix Automático doesn't just improve convenience—it represents inclusion. Banks and fintechs are also poised to benefit. Beyond media subscriptions and digital content, Pix Automático can power recurring use cases like insurance premiums, utility bills, gym memberships, and even automated savings or micro-investments. The infrastructure opens the door for new financial products that are simple, real-time, and inclusive by design. There's growing speculation that Pix Automático could even displace traditional direct debits in Brazil. Unlike legacy debit arrangements, which are slow to set up and can be bank-specific, Pix Automático offers real-time settlement and works across institutions. Pix Automatico isn't a new alternative form of payment in the Brazilian market, rather a continuation of the country's bold leadership in digital payments. Pix is already the country's most used payment method, deeply embedded in the lives of consumers and businesses alike. Pix Automático builds on this maturity, adding functionality that makes recurring payments easier, more consistent, and better aligned with both consumer behaviour and business needs. For companies looking to grow in Brazil, integrating Pix Automático will require collaboration with payment processors, updated user flows, and strong customer education. But the return is clear - stronger conversions, more predictable revenue, and a deeper connection to one of the world's most innovative digital economies. Brazil has already proven that game-changing financial innovation can come from central bankers, not just tech giants. Pix Automático is the next chapter in that story, reminding us that the future of fintech may be written not only in code, but also in Portuguese. Federico Mazzoli is VP of Product at dLocal "Brazil's reshaping of the Latin American subscription economy " was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand. 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Reuters
27-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Brazil central bank sees rate cut debate as premature, says official
June 27 (Reuters) - Brazil's central bank is not currently discussing potential interest rate cuts, director Diogo Guillen said on Friday, reaffirming that policymakers remain focused on bringing inflation back to target over the relevant horizon. "That seems like a very distant debate," he said at an event hosted by Barclays in Sao Paulo, adding it would be "far too premature" to talk about what might lead the bank to ease borrowing costs. Earlier this month, the central bank raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 15%, a near two-decade high, and signaled it expects to hold it steady for a "very prolonged" period. Guillen said the pause was announced to assess whether the cumulative 450-basis-point increase since September had been enough. "As the cycle evolves, you reach a more contractionary interest rate level, which also allows more time to observe the lagged effects (of monetary policy)," he added. Guillen also emphasized that the central bank is targeting the midpoint of the inflation goal, set at 3%, and aims to reach it within the relevant monetary policy horizon, which currently extends to the fourth quarter of 2026. Brazil's economy has "undoubtedly" shown resilience, but there are signs of a slowdown in growth, he added. Guillen said that the debate over the reasons behind recent economic strength involves several hypotheses involving stronger consumption, credit expansion, labor market dynamics and the effects of social benefits.
Reuters
18-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Brazil central bank raises rates by 25 bps in seventh straight hike
BRASILIA, June 18 (Reuters) - Brazil's central bank raised interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, delivering a seventh consecutive hike that defied bets it would hold rates steady, as unanchored inflation expectations and a resilient economy kept policymakers on alert. The bank's rate-setting committee, Copom, unanimously decided to lift the benchmark Selic rate to 15%, the highest since July 2006. A majority of 27 out of 39 economists polled by Reuters had expected the bank to hold rates steady at 14.75%.
Reuters
11-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Brazil's finance minister urges lawmakers to back economic agenda
BRASILIA, June 11 (Reuters) - Brazil's Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said on Wednesday the country needs to push ahead with measures under consideration in Congress to ensure the current growth cycle in Latin America's largest economy is sustainable. Haddad made his remarks during a hearing in the lower house of Congress after Speaker Hugo Motta said earlier on Wednesday the government's proposal to roll back a controversial tax hike on some financial transactions faces resistance from lawmakers. On Sunday, Haddad proposed offsetting the revenue loss from the scaled-back financial transactions tax with higher taxes on online betting, private credit instruments and financial institutions. "We need to understand that presenting solutions focused on increasing revenue, without cutting spending, does not work," Motta added in a post on the X social media site. During his opening remarks at the hearing, Haddad noted that leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government is delivering average annual economic growth of 3%, but said it is necessary to "keep advancing with the economic measures being addressed to this House" to ensure the growth cycle continues. "There is no reason we can't continue to grow, but we must have the courage to face certain taboos," Haddad added. He also said the government has been expressing to Congress its concerns over certain spending trends, many of which are being honored by the Lula administration despite not having been initiated by it, such as rising expenditures related to the Fundeb education fund. Haddad argued it is better to correct distortions in the current tax system than to simply raise tax rates. He also defended an income tax reform bill sent to Congress that proposes higher exemptions for the middle class and a boost in taxation of wealthier people.
