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The largest corporations operating in Brazil
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Below, the ranking of the largest Brazilian corporations back in 2003.
Check out the ranks of Brazilian companies in 2015.
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Exame, the most important Business and Economy Brazilian magazine, published a list of the largest corporations operating in Brazil (financial companies, like banks, were not included) in 2003; information were collected from balances released by the companies.
The table below lists the 50 largest ones, by sales; each entry shows Name of company, city and State where the main office in Brazil is located, the business field and the volume of sales (in millions of US dollars), and applicable comments.
The complete list organized by Exame had the largest 500 companies; the company #500 was Trombini, from Curitiba, which had business of US$ 149,8 in the Pulp and Paper business; only 69 companies (excluded the financial ones) had more than US$ 1 billion in sales.
|
|
Company |
City/State |
Business Field |
Sales |
Country |
Comments |
| 1 |
Petrobras |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Petroleum and Energy |
38,441 |
|
1 |
| 2 |
BR Distribuidora |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Wholesale (fuel) |
10,567 |
|
1 |
| 3 |
Telemar |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Telecommunications |
6,311 |
|
2 |
| 4 |
Telefonica |
São Paulo, SP |
Telecommunications |
5,699 |
Spain |
2 |
| 5 |
Ambev |
São Paulo, SP |
Beer and drinks |
5,344 |
|
|
| 6 |
Ipiranga |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Wholesale (Fuel) |
5,060 |
|
|
| 7 |
Volkswagen |
São Bernardo, SP |
Automobiles |
4,791 |
Germany |
|
| 8 |
Shell |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Wholesale (Fuel) |
4,382 |
UK/Holland |
3 |
| 9 |
General Motors |
São Caetano, SP |
Automobiles |
4,131 |
USA |
|
| 10 |
Brasil Telecom |
Brasilia, DF |
Telecommunications |
3,913 |
|
2 |
| 11 |
Bunge Food |
Gaspar, SC |
Food and Drink |
3,866 |
Argentina |
|
| 12 |
Pão de Açucar |
São Paulo, SP |
Retailer |
3,858 |
|
|
| 13 |
Vale do Rio Doce |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Mining |
3,628 |
|
|
| 14 |
Carrefour |
São Paulo, SP |
Retailer |
3,628 |
France |
|
| 15 |
Brasken |
Camaçari, BA |
Petrochemical |
3,345 |
|
|
| 16 |
Esso |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Wholesale (Fuel) |
3,192 |
USA |
|
| 17 |
Texaco |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Wholesale (Fuel) |
3,175 |
USA |
|
| 18 |
Embratel |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Telecommunication |
3,167 |
Mexico |
4 |
| 19 |
Cargill |
São Paulo, SP |
Food and Drink |
3,163 |
USA |
|
| 20 |
Eletropaulo |
São Paulo, SP |
Utilities (Electricity) |
3,056 |
|
|
| 21 |
Nestle |
São Paulo, SP |
Food and Drink |
2,916 |
Switzerland |
|
| 22 |
FIAT |
Betim, MG |
Automobiles |
2,813 |
Italy |
|
| 23 |
CEMIG |
Belo Horizonte |
Utilities (Electricity) |
2,649 |
|
|
| 24 |
C.S.N. |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Iron and Steel |
2,573 |
|
|
| 25 |
VARIG |
Porto Alegre, RS |
Transportation (air carrier) |
2,375 |
|
|
| 26 |
Unilever |
São Paulo, SP |
Pharmacy and Hygiene |
2,319 |
UK/Holland |
|
| 27 |
Souza Cruz |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Tobacco |
2,284 |
UK |
5 |
| 28 |
Embraer |
São José Campos, SP |
Airplanes |
2,243 |
|
|
| 29 |
Gerdau |
Porto Alegre, RS |
Iron and Steel |
2,206 |
|
|
| 30 |
Usiminas |
Belo Horizonte, MG |
Iron and Steel |
2,200 |
Brazil/Japan |
|
| 31 |
Itaipu |
Brasilia, DF |
Utilities (Electricity) |
2,184 |
Brazil/Paraguay |
|
| 32 |
REFAP |
Canoas, RS |
Petrochemical |
2,131 |
|
|
| 33 |
Casas Bahia |
São Caetano do Sul, SP |
Retailer |
2,112 |
|
|
| 34 |
AGIP |
São Paulo, SP |
Utilities |
2,108 |
Italy |
|
| 35 |
Correios |
Brasília, DF |
Postal Service |
2,074 |
|
|
| 36 |
DaimlerChrysler |
São Bernardo, SP |
Automobiles |
2,022 |
Germany |
6 |
| 37 |
Sadia |
Concórdia, SC |
Food |
1,966 |
|
|
| 38 |
Light |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Utilities (Electricity) |
1,891 |
France |
|
| 39 |
Copesul |
Triunfo, RS |
Petrochemical |
1,891 |
|
|
| 40 |
Ford |
São Bernardo, SP |
Automobiles |
1,890 |
USA |
|
| 41 |
Vivo |
São Paulo, SP |
Telecommunications |
1,870 |
Portugal/Spain |
7 |
| 42 |
Furnas |
Rio de Janeiro, RJ |
Utilities (Electricity) |
1,757 |
|
|
| 43 |
Bunge Fertilizers |
São Paulo, SP |
Fertilizers |
1,725 |
Bermuda |
|
| 44 |
CPFL |
Campinas, SP |
Utilities (Electricity) |
1,576 |
|
|
| 45 |
Cosipa |
São Paulo, SP |
Iron and Steel |
1,573 |
|
|
| 46 |
Nokia |
Manaus, AM |
Electronics |
1,550 |
Finland |
|
| 47 |
Sabesp |
São Paulo, SP |
Utilities (Water & Sewage) |
1,515 |
|
|
| 48 |
Perdigão |
São Paulo, SP |
Food |
1,483 |
|
|
| 49 |
Basf |
São Bernardo, SP |
Chemicals |
1,461 |
Germany |
|
| 50 |
Copersucar |
São Paulo, SP |
Wholesale (sugar & alcohol) |
1,448 |
|
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1.Petrobras drills wells and refines petroleum. BR Distribuidora sells the products (gasoline, diesel, etc) to the wholesalers (Shell, Esso, etc) which eventually sell to the gas stations.
2.Each phone company operates in different regions of the country, as defined by the chartering contracts. The restrictions may be lifted (companies may operate in other regions, or can offer new services - e.g., mobile telephony) depending on their performance (also as defined by the contracts), periodically revised.
Telemar operated in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and the Brazilian northeast; Telefonica operated in the State of São Paulo; Brazil Telecom in the South and Central West.
3. Petrobras lost the constitutional monopoly on exploration of petroleum, but, in practice, it´s still a monopolist. In Brazil, the large oil companies like Shell, Exxon (in Brazil, called Esso) and others (Mobil and Chevron do not operate here) are focused on the retailer market (gas stations) only. These companies ann others are exploring some fields, but the years of monopoly gave to Petrobras a large competitive advantage.
4.Embratel used to have the monopoly of long-distance and international calls, but now they have a few competitors. It was a property of American MCI, but it was recently sold to Mexican group Telmex.
5.A property of British Tobacco Co.
6.The main activity of DaimlerChrysler in Brazil is the production of trucks Mercedes-Benz, which have been present in the country for decades. There is an assembly line of Class-A in Juiz de Fora, MG, but it is working way below capacity.
7.The largest operator of celular telephony in Brazil; resulted of the merging of several smaller companies.
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