How to pay Chinese suppliers from Brazil
To pay a Chinese supplier from Brazil, close a foreign exchange contract with an authorized bank and send US dollars by SWIFT to the supplier's account in China or Hong Kong, with the import purpose code and invoice number. Central Bank rules allow advance payments of up to 360 days before shipment, and since February 2026 stablecoin payments abroad are foreign exchange operations with their own limits. This guide covers Radar, the DUIMP, the routes, published bank tariffs, the documents and the risks of informal routes.
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- Every import payment from Brazil goes through an institution authorized by the Banco Central do Brasil and carries the sender's and beneficiary's details under Article 13 of Resolution BCB 277.
- Article 47 of Resolution BCB 277 allows an import to be paid in reais or foreign currency, and in advance up to 360 days before shipment, or 1,800 days for long-cycle machinery.
- A company with limited Radar can import up to US$50,000 or US$150,000 per six-month period, so the Radar type caps the orders it can pay for.
- The DUIMP is now the general import declaration for most air and ocean imports, with the older DI being phased out by 1 December 2026.
- Bradesco publishes R$900 for issuing a foreign exchange contract and R$450 for issuing an import payment order, and banks must state the total cost (VET) before spot operations up to US$100,000.
- Since 2 February 2026, Resolution BCB 521 treats stablecoin payments abroad as foreign exchange operations, with a US$100,000 limit for SPSAV payments to counterparties that are not authorized exchange institutions.
How to pay a Chinese supplier from Brazil: the short answer
A Brazilian company pays a Chinese supplier through a foreign exchange contract with an authorized bank or exchange institution. It buys the dollars with reais, the bank sends them by SWIFT to the supplier's account in China or Hong Kong, and the company clears the goods on a customs declaration that matches the payment. A foreign exchange contract (contrato de câmbio) is the record of one purchase or sale of foreign currency between a client and an institution authorized by the Banco Central do Brasil (BCB): the amount, the rate, the settlement date and the purpose. SWIFT is the international messaging network banks use for cross-border payments.
The usual sequence for an order from China is:
- Get Radar, the Receita Federal registration that lets a company use Siscomex, Brazil's foreign trade system, and check which Radar limit applies.
- Agree the price, the payment terms and the Incoterm with the supplier, and get a proforma invoice. An Incoterm is a standard trade term, such as FOB or CIF, that sets who pays freight and insurance.
- Request any import license the goods need, in the Portal Único, before shipment.
- Close a foreign exchange contract for the deposit and pay it by SWIFT, with the import purpose code and the supplier's details.
- Pay the balance against a copy of the bill of lading, or use a letter of credit or a documentary collection.
- Clear the goods on a DUIMP, the single import declaration, with values that match the commercial invoice.
This guide covers the Brazilian side of each step. For the supplier's side, such as how Chinese factories invoice and how to pay a Hong Kong account, see our general guide on how to pay suppliers in China.
Radar, DUIMP and the Central Bank rules
Radar and Siscomex
Radar is the registration a company with a CNPJ (the Brazilian company tax number) needs to trade internationally; without it there is no import through Siscomex. The request is made through the Habilita system in the Portal Único. There are three types. Express covers listed companies and their wholly owned subsidiaries and state-owned companies, with no operating limit. Limited allows imports of up to US$50,000 or US$150,000 per six-month period, counting customs value, freight and insurance. Unlimited applies above US$150,000 per six months. The category depends on the federal taxes the company has paid, so a new company with little tax history will often start in the US$50,000 bracket. Plan the order size within your Radar limit before you pay a deposit.
DUIMP and the end of the DI
The DUIMP (Declaração Única de Importação) is filed in the Portal Único and is now the general rule for most air and ocean imports by companies with unlimited or express Radar. The older DI (Declaração de Importação) is being phased out, with 1 December 2026 listed as the final date. The DUIMP draws product data from the company's Product Catalogue, and its values must match the commercial invoice; small differences can block the filing.
Central Bank rules on paying an import
Resolution BCB 277 of 31 December 2022 is the main rulebook for the foreign exchange market. Article 47 states that an import may be paid in reais or in foreign currency, and allows payment in advance of up to 360 days before shipment, or up to 1,800 days for long-cycle machinery and equipment. Article 13 requires every payment to or from abroad to go through an authorized institution and to carry the sender's and beneficiary's details, including, for a Brazilian sender, the name, identification number, address and account identifier or CNPJ. The client classifies each operation with a purpose code, with a shorter code list for operations up to US$50,000 and a detailed list above it.
| Rule | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Radar types | Express (no limit); limited (US$50,000 or US$150,000 per six months); unlimited (above US$150,000) | Receita Federal, as summarized by DHL |
| Customs declaration | DUIMP in the Portal Único; DI phased out, final date 1 December 2026 | Siscomex, as summarized by DHL |
| Currency of an import payment | Reais or foreign currency | Res. BCB 277, Art. 47 |
| Advance payment | Up to 360 days before shipment; up to 1,800 days for long-cycle machinery and equipment | Res. BCB 277, Art. 47 |
| Payment details | Sender and beneficiary information on every payment to or from abroad | Res. BCB 277, Art. 13 |
| Settlement | Spot contracts settle within two business days, excluding non-business days in either currency's center | Res. BCB 277, Art. 38 |
| Total cost disclosure | The institution states the VET before spot operations up to US$100,000 | Res. BCB 277, Art. 18 |
Sources: Banco Central do Brasil, Resolution BCB 277; DHL, Siscomex imports in Brazil. as published on 29 October 2026. Confirm current rules with your bank and customs broker.
How the money reaches a Chinese supplier
Most Chinese suppliers invoice in US dollars, and many invoice through a Hong Kong trading company with a Hong Kong bank account. A Brazilian importer pays in one of the ways below. Whichever route you use, the beneficiary on the payment should be the company named on the commercial invoice in your DUIMP.
| Supplier asks for | How you pay from Brazil | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| USD to a Hong Kong company account | Foreign exchange contract with your bank, then SWIFT transfer in USD | The Hong Kong company is the seller on the invoice |
| USD to a mainland China account | Foreign exchange contract, then SWIFT transfer in USD | The supplier's bank checks the contract and invoice before it credits the funds |
| Chinese yuan (CNY) to a mainland account | Ask your bank whether it closes foreign exchange contracts in yuan and at what rate | Compare the yuan quote with the dollar route |
| Letter of credit | Your bank issues the credit; the supplier is paid against documents | Documents must match the credit exactly |
| Documentary collection | Banks release the shipping documents to you against payment | The supplier carries more risk than under a credit |
Routes as described in this guide; supplier-side checks from PNC Bank's summary of China's goods trade foreign exchange rules. as published on 29 October 2026.
Paying in yuan
On 7 February 2023 the People's Bank of China authorized ICBC Brasil to act as a renminbi clearing bank in Brazil, as reported by Reuters. A clearing bank settles yuan payments locally, which can shorten the chain for a yuan transfer. Whether your bank offers yuan contracts, and at what rate, varies by bank. Paying in yuan saves the supplier a conversion but not yours, so compare the total cost of both routes.
What the supplier's bank checks
China manages foreign exchange through the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE). As summarized by PNC Bank, a Chinese company must be on SAFE's list of companies with goods trade foreign exchange business, and the supplier's bank verifies each receipt using documents such as the contract, invoice and customs declaration. The same summary states that the remitter and the beneficiary must be the parties to the contract. Brazil's own Article 13 rule means your payment carries your CNPJ and name, which helps the supplier's bank match it.
Deposit, balance and payment terms
The payment term decides when reais are converted, when money leaves Brazil and what you hold in return.
| Term | How it works | Fit with the Brazilian rules |
|---|---|---|
| Advance payment (deposit) | You pay part of the order before production, often 30% | Allowed up to 360 days before shipment (Art. 47); keep it within your Radar limit |
| Balance against bill of lading copy | You pay the rest once the goods have shipped | A second foreign exchange contract to the same beneficiary |
| Letter of credit | Your bank promises to pay the supplier when it presents documents that match the credit | Bank commissions apply; discrepancies delay payment |
| Documentary collection | Banks exchange the shipping documents for your payment, without a bank promise | The supplier carries more risk than under a credit |
| Supplier credit | The supplier ships first and you pay later | Paid under a foreign exchange contract when due; ask your bank about any registration |
Advance payment rule from Banco Central do Brasil, Resolution BCB 277, Article 47. as published on 29 October 2026.
A letter of credit (LC) is a bank's written promise to pay the seller when it presents documents that comply with the credit's terms. A documentary collection sends the shipping documents through the banks, and you receive them only after you pay or accept a bill of exchange. A supplier that has not traded with you before may ask for an LC on the first order and accept deposit and balance on later orders.
Because a spot contract settles within two business days, excluding non-business days in either currency's center, a US public holiday can delay a dollar payment. Close the contract early enough that the supplier receives the funds before the date in the invoice.
What it costs: published bank tariffs
Each Brazilian bank publishes its own foreign exchange tariffs. The table shows one bank's published charges for companies, as an example of the items to budget for on each order.
| Item | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Foreign exchange contract, issuance | R$900 per contract |
| Foreign exchange contract, amendment | R$675 |
| Foreign exchange contract, cancellation | R$675 per contract |
| Simplified foreign exchange, import | R$900 per contract |
| Payment order issuance, import | R$450 per issue |
| Transfer of a payment order abroad | R$675 |
| Foreign collection, registration | R$450 per bill |
| Foreign collection, monthly holding | R$135 per bill per month |
Source: Bradesco, operações de câmbio tariff table for companies, in force from 1 May 2024, as published on 29 October 2026. Other banks set their own charges.
Ask the bank which of these items apply to an ordinary import payment, because a contract fee and a payment order fee can both be charged. Three costs sit outside the tariff. The first is the exchange rate, which is usually the largest cost. The second is IOF, the federal tax on financial operations, which applies to foreign exchange at rates set by decree. The third is correspondent bank charges on the way to China.
The VET (Valor Efetivo Total) is the total cost of a foreign exchange operation in reais per unit of foreign currency, combining the rate, taxes and fees. Under Article 18 of Resolution BCB 277 the institution must state it before spot operations of up to US$100,000. Compare VETs, not headline rates, when you choose where to close the contract.
Send SWIFT payments with the charge code OUR, which means you pay all transfer fees and the supplier receives the full invoice amount. SHA shares the fees, so intermediary deductions come out of the amount. BEN puts all fees on the supplier.
Documents that tie the payment to customs
The bank, customs and the supplier's bank each match the same facts: the supplier's name, the invoice number, the value and the purpose of the payment. Keep them identical across every document.
| Stage | Document | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Before ordering | Radar registration; Product Catalogue entries; proforma invoice | Receita Federal; importer; supplier |
| Before shipment | Import license (LPCO) in the Portal Único where the goods need one | Agencies such as Anvisa, MAPA or Inmetro |
| Each payment | Foreign exchange contract with purpose code and beneficiary details; SWIFT confirmation | Importer and bank |
| After shipment | Bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list | Carrier and supplier |
| Clearance | DUIMP with values matching the commercial invoice | Importer or customs broker |
| After clearance | Foreign exchange contracts, invoices and DUIMP kept together | Importer |
Sources: Resolution BCB 277, Article 13; DHL, Siscomex imports in Brazil. Typical sequence; requirements vary by product. as published on 29 October 2026.
A bill of lading is the document the shipping line issues when it receives the goods. Ask the supplier to send a copy before you pay the balance, and check that the shipper, consignee and goods match the invoice. If the final invoice differs from the proforma, settle the difference under its own foreign exchange contract and keep the DUIMP values aligned with the final invoice.
Agents, dealers and stablecoins: the 2026 rules
Some importers pay through a trading agent, a currency dealer or a stablecoin seller rather than through a foreign exchange contract in their own name. The facts below are what an importer should weigh.
- Cross-border payments go through authorized institutions. Article 13 of Resolution BCB 277 requires payments to and from abroad to go through an institution authorized to operate in the foreign exchange market, carrying the sender's and beneficiary's details.
- Stablecoin payments are foreign exchange operations. Since 2 February 2026, Resolution BCB 521 places international payments with virtual assets, and the purchase or sale of stablecoins such as USDT and USDC, inside the foreign exchange market. The client gives a purpose code and details of the counterparty abroad.
- There are limits on paying a supplier's wallet. A virtual asset service provider company (SPSAV) may make an international payment with virtual assets to a counterparty that is not an authorized foreign exchange institution only up to US$100,000. Payments for third parties are prohibited, except where the provider serves an authorized exchange institution acting for its clients.
- eFX providers cannot use stablecoins. From 1 October 2026, Resolution BCB 561 prohibits virtual assets as the means of payment between an eFX provider and its counterparty abroad.
- The supplier's bank may query a third-party payment. China's rules expect the payer to be the party on the contract.
Where Helm fits
Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank. Accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. A Helm account gives your company USD account details in its own name, with a US routing and account number that receives ACH, Fedwire and SWIFT payments.
For a Brazilian business that buys from China, it works like this:
- Pay suppliers in USD. Send international payments by SWIFT from your company's own account to the supplier's USD account in China or Hong Kong, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before you send.
- Use dollars you earn abroad. If the company also exports or sells services abroad, customers can pay the USD account, and you can pay suppliers from the same balance.
- Convert stablecoins. You can receive USDC or USDT and convert them to USD inside the account. Moving the company's own stablecoins from a Brazilian provider to an account abroad is an international transfer with virtual assets under Resolution BCB 521.
- Finance the order. Trade finance, such as supplier finance and working capital, is arranged case by case.
A Helm account sits outside Brazil, so its balance is Brazilian capital abroad, with an annual declaration to the BCB when assets abroad reach US$1 million or more on 31 December (Resolution BCB 279). Confirm with your accountant and customs broker how a payment from an account abroad is recorded against the DUIMP. Each account has a named account manager, and review questions are answered in writing within one business day. Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment.
A checklist for paying a Chinese supplier from Brazil
- Check your Radar type and its six-month limit before you agree the order size.
- Request any import license in the Portal Único before shipment.
- Check the seller on the invoice, the DUIMP and the payment are the same company.
- Ask for the VET, not only the rate, before you close each foreign exchange contract.
- Use the import purpose code and quote the invoice number on each payment.
- Send each payment by SWIFT with charges set to OUR.
- Pay the balance against a copy of the bill of lading, or use a letter of credit for a new supplier.
- Keep each foreign exchange contract with the invoice and DUIMP for the order.
For how other importers organize supplier payments, see the importers page.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
How do I pay a Chinese supplier from Brazil?
Close a foreign exchange contract with an authorized bank or exchange institution, then send US dollars by SWIFT to the supplier's account in China or Hong Kong with the import purpose code and invoice number. Pay the balance against a copy of the bill of lading, or use a letter of credit for a new supplier.
What is a contrato de câmbio?
A foreign exchange contract is the record of one purchase or sale of foreign currency between a client and an institution authorized by the Banco Central do Brasil, with the amount, rate, settlement date and purpose. Every conversion between reais and dollars for an import payment runs through one.
How far in advance can I pay a Chinese supplier from Brazil?
Article 47 of Resolution BCB 277 allows advance payment of up to 360 days before shipment, or up to 1,800 days for long-cycle machinery and equipment. Keep the deposit within your Radar limit.
Do I need Radar to import from China?
Yes. Radar is the registration a company with a CNPJ needs to import through Siscomex. A limited Radar allows imports of up to US$50,000 or US$150,000 per six-month period, and an unlimited Radar applies above US$150,000.
What replaced the DI in Brazil?
The DUIMP, the single import declaration filed in the Portal Único, is now the general rule for most air and ocean imports by companies with unlimited or express Radar. The DI is being phased out, with 1 December 2026 listed as the final date.
Can I pay a Chinese supplier in yuan from Brazil?
It depends on your bank. The People's Bank of China authorized ICBC Brasil as a renminbi clearing bank in Brazil in February 2023, as reported by Reuters, but each bank decides whether it offers yuan contracts and at what rate.
What do Brazilian banks charge to pay an import?
Each bank publishes its own tariffs. Bradesco lists R$900 to issue a foreign exchange contract and R$450 to issue an import payment order, plus the exchange rate, IOF and correspondent charges. Ask for the VET, which combines the rate, taxes and fees.
Can I pay a Chinese supplier with USDT from Brazil?
Since 2 February 2026, an international payment with stablecoins is a foreign exchange operation under Resolution BCB 521. A virtual asset service provider company may pay a counterparty that is not an authorized exchange institution only up to US$100,000, with a purpose code and counterparty details.
Why does my Chinese supplier want payment to a Hong Kong account?
Many Chinese factories sell through a Hong Kong trading company that holds a Hong Kong bank account. Make sure the Hong Kong company is the seller on the commercial invoice in your DUIMP, so the payment and the import documents match.
Is it safe to pay a Chinese supplier through an agent in Brazil?
Brazilian rules require cross-border payments to go through authorized institutions with the sender's and beneficiary's details, and China's rules expect the payer to be the contract party. A payment made by an agent does not match your DUIMP and may be queried by the supplier's bank.
References
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB nº 277, de 31 de dezembro de 2022 (foreign exchange market)
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB nº 521, de 10 de novembro de 2025 (virtual asset services in the foreign exchange market)
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB nº 561, de 30 de abril de 2026 (eFX)
- Banco Central do Brasil: Resolução BCB nº 279 (Brazilian capital abroad)
- DHL: Siscomex imports in Brazil
- Bradesco: Operações de câmbio, tariff table for companies
- Reuters via Kitco: China's central bank authorises ICBC Brazil as yuan clearing bank (21 February 2023)
- PNC Bank: Navigating China's regulations on foreign exchange for goods trade
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.