Brazil is arriving at the Hannover Messe with a deliberate push to be seen as more than an agricultural giant. Opening April 20 in Hannover, the world’s largest manufacturing trade fair will spotlight the country’s ambitions in industrial technology, green energy and digitalised, resilient supply chains.
“We want to show that Brazil is not only an agricultural powerhouse, but also a global player in industrial technology,” said Patricia Gomes of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency. Brazil’s delegation aims to highlight strengths in renewable energy, electric mobility and smart industry solutions.
Electric mobility and energy technologies are a core focus. Brazil is already a regional leader in Latin America for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure: last year about 224,000 EVs were registered, roughly 40% more than the previous year. That growth ties directly into one of the fair’s main themes, energy efficiency and energy technology. “Given the current geopolitical situation, topics such as energy supply, infrastructure resilience and alternative energy solutions are gaining additional relevance,” trade fair spokesperson Onuora Ogbukagu said. “Energy security is increasingly coming into focus.”
Trade prospects are also in the spotlight. Some 4,000 companies from 60 countries are exhibiting in Hannover, and more than 300 Brazilian firms are present. The long-awaited EU–Mercosur free trade agreement — covering the EU and Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay — is set to provisionally enter into force on May 1 after more than 25 years of talks, a move expected to boost commerce. Yvonne Heidler of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) said mechanical engineering could be a clear winner: German machinery exports to the four Mercosur countries might rise from about €3.5 billion now to as much as €5 billion by 2040.
That optimism sits alongside international uncertainty. An Ifo Institute survey found 78.6% of German firms in March struggled to assess future business prospects. Klaus Wohlrabe, who leads Ifo’s surveys, said the war in and around Iran has “noticeably increased uncertainty in the German economy,” with industry particularly affected. Global growth forecasts are modest: of the largest economies, only India recently grew above 6%. China is targeting roughly 4.5% growth, while Brazil’s central bank expects GDP growth near 1.6% in 2026, down from 2.3% the previous year. Economists warn these projections could shift as Middle East tensions influence prices and demand.
Despite headwinds, Brazilian companies are making inroads. German and Brazilian firms such as connectivity and charging specialist Harting, drive-technology leader SEW Eurodrive, and Brazilian electric-motor and charging-system maker WEG are all showcasing solutions. ROMI, Brazil’s biggest machine-tool maker, reported about 8% growth in 2025 and now runs two of its 13 production sites in Germany after acquiring Burkhardt+Weber in 2012. ROMI CEO Luiz Cassiano Rosolen said colleagues in Germany “enjoy being a little bit Brazilian,” and that the company proudly counts a brand considered the “Porsche of machine toolmakers” among its portfolio.
Brazilian President Lula and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will officially open the fair. The leaders briefly met at COP30 in Belém in November 2025; Hannover provides a longer setting to advance German‑Brazilian relations. This article was originally written in German.