Exports from São José dos Campos place the city among the largest industrial and technological centers in Brazil.
By 2025, the city exported US$4,1 billion in goods and products to approximately 120 countries.
The result represents a growth of 10,4% compared to the previous year, according to official data From the Secretariat of Innovation and Economic Development of the Municipality of São José dos Campos.
But what these numbers reveal goes beyond the figures: they are proof that exports from São José dos Campos have formed a sophisticated productive structure, connected to the global market and geared towards generating value through industry, technology and innovation.
São José dos Campos is currently the 4th largest exporting municipality in the State of São Paulo, one of the states with the highest concentration of industry in the southern hemisphere.
This position is a direct result of decades of building an economic ecosystem focused on international competitiveness.
What are the exports from São José dos Campos?
The export sector of São José dos Campos is mainly composed of manufactured products with high added value and technological content..
It's not about commodities, minerals, or primary products. What the city sells to the world is embedded technology, applied engineering, and complex industrial production—the kind of exports that define mature industrial economies.
According to the city hall, in 2025, approximately 90% of everything the municipality exported It focused on five categories:
- Airplanes, helicopters and satellites: US$ 2,95 billion (72% of the total);
- Vehicles for transporting goods: US$ 311,3 million (7,6%);
- Aircraft parts: US$ 216,5 million (5,3%);
- Electrical equipment for telephony: US$ 146,4 million (3,6%);
- Passenger cars: US$ 60,5 million (1,5%).
This composition is what economists call high value-added agenda And that is precisely what differentiates São José dos Campos from most Brazilian municipalities in foreign trade.
The role of exports in the economy of São José dos Campos.
Industry and international competitiveness
The recent trajectory of exports from São José dos Campos shows a consistent acceleration curve:
- 2021: US$2,32 billion;
- 2023: US$2,86 billion;
- 2024: US$ 3,68 billion (+28,76% over 2023);
- 2025: US$ 4,1 billion (+10,4% over 2024).
Nearly 60% growth in four years, even in a volatile global environment. This performance reflects structural resilience, a sign of an industrial economy that does not depend on external cycles to sustain its competitiveness.
The municipality's trade balance recorded surplus of US$927 million in 2024, with exports exceeding imports according to Data from the Comex Stat platform.
Technology and added value
The most revealing piece of data is what makes up this volume.
Aircraft, aerospace components, industrial vehicles, and telecommunications equipment are products that require cutting-edge engineering, a skilled supply chain, and highly specialized human capital.
São José dos Campos does not export any product. Exports industrial capacity.
How did São José dos Campos become an export hub?
Aerospace, industry and innovation
SJC's export strength has clear historical roots.
Since Embraer established itself in the city in 1969, a complete ecosystem has formed around the manufacturer.Suppliers of components, research institutes, engineering universities, and specialized service companies.
This movement didn't just create jobs. It created a production chain capable of competing in the most demanding markets on the planet.
Embraer, with over 8.000 aircraft delivered to more than 100 countries and approximately 18.000 employees, is the anchor of this system. But it is not solely responsible for the export results.
O aerospace hub of São José dos Campos This includes ITA (Technological Institute of Aeronautics), INPE (National Institute for Space Research), and DCTA (Department of Aerospace Science and Technology), structures that train professionals and generate knowledge that continuously feeds back into the local industry.
Supply chain and global operations
In addition to aerospace, SJC is home to multinational operations that expand its export base:
- General Motors: It produces the S10 and Trailblazer locally, as well as engines and transmissions;
- Boeing: It maintains an Engineering and Technology Center in the municipality — one of the company's few global centers outside the U.S.;
- Ericsson: The city has a historical industrial history dating back to the manufacture of radio base stations;
- Eaton: It will have completed 68 years of operation in SJC in 2025.
When global operations When groups of this caliber are concentrated in the same territory, the result is a prepared production chain to fulfill highly complex international contracts.
The export figures confirm exactly that.
Aerospace exports: the engine of the export agenda.
The relevance of the aerospace industry
The aerospace sector accounted for 74% of São José dos Campos' exports in 2024, totaling US$2,727 billion.
By 2025, airplanes, helicopters, and satellites will total US$2,95 billion, maintaining their absolute lead.
This reflects a specialization built up over decades, with adequate workforce training, research infrastructure, and regulatory environment.
No other city in Brazil brings together, in the same space:
- A world-class aircraft manufacturer (Embraer);
- An elite technological institute (ITA);
- An institute for space research (INPE);
- A military department of aerospace science (DCTA).
This unique concentration is what makes export performance sustainable and difficult to replicate.
Global companies and economic integration
Diversification is also part of the result.
The automotive industry generated US$236 million in exports in 2024, a direct reflection of GM's operations in the city.
Electrical equipment for telephony, with participation from companies such as Ericsson and Panasonic, also figures among the most exported products.
In 2025, companies in São José dos Campos marketed approximately 403 different types of products. for buyers in approximately 120 countries.
This level of productive diversification is rare among Brazilian municipalities and is what ensures that SJC's export performance does not depend on a single sector or company.
Logistics, infrastructure and competitiveness
Connection with international markets
Exporting consistently requires more than just production capacity.
Exige logistics infrastructure capable of connecting local production to global markets efficiently and at a competitive cost.
São José dos Campos occupies a strategic geographical position:
- 71 km from Guarulhos International Airport (GRU);
- 88,5 km from São Paulo;
- 111 km from the Port of São Sebastião;
- 347 km from Rio de Janeiro.
Proximity to the country's main cargo airport is crucial for the flow of aircraft and aerospace components, the items with the greatest weight in the export agenda.
Strategic infrastructure for export
São José dos Campos is also part of national railway network freight transport, operated by MRS Logística, reinforcing the capacity for industrial outflow along the Rio-São Paulo axis.
SJK Airport operates regular flights and has the potential to expand to specialized cargo, complementing the existing logistics infrastructure.
This combination of modes of transport positions SJC as an industrial city and also as logistics node Prepared to connect local production to international markets with agility.
The economic impact of exports on the city.
Industrial development
The GDP of São José dos Campos reached R$ 61,4 billion in 2023, a growth of 124% in ten years.
The GDP per capita, at R$ 88.077, more than doubled during the same period, indicating that the wealth produced per inhabitant kept pace with the city's industrial expansion.
This result is no coincidence: cities that export high value-added products generate more income per worker, attract higher quality investments, and build ecosystems that are more resilient to external shocks.
The innovation ecosystem amplifies this cycle.
The Technology Park of SJC It brings together more than 330 affiliated companies, 11 multi-user laboratories, and direct connections with six universities and research centers., generating knowledge that feeds back into industrial competitiveness and, consequently, export capacity.
Skilled jobs and innovation
The composition of the export sectors generates a specific type of employment: highly skilled, well-paid, and grounded in technical knowledge.
São José dos Campos has one of the largest concentrations of engineers and technology professionals in Brazil, estimated base of over 20 specialists.
ITA continuously trains the professionals who support this production chain.
This cycle – exporting high technology, creating skilled jobs, developing talent, and attracting new companies – is what sets São José dos Campos apart from a typical industrial hub.
Invest where the industry has already proven it works.
Export data tells more than just the story of São José dos Campos' industrial past.
They reveal the structure now available for companies seeking to grow with scale, technology, and real access to the global market.
If your company is considering expanding operations in Brazil or establishing a new unit connected to global industrial chains, Invest in São José dos Campos And talk to our team.
FAQ — Exports from São José dos Campos
Is São José dos Campos a significant exporting city in Brazil?
Yes. In 2025, the municipality reached US$4,1 billion in exports, becoming the 4th largest exporter in the State of São Paulo, according to data from the Foreign Trade Secretariat of the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services.
Which sectors lead exports from São José dos Campos?
The aerospace sector leads with 72% of total exports in 2025, amounting to US$2,95 billion in airplanes, helicopters, and satellites. Next are industrial vehicles, aircraft parts, electrical equipment for telecommunications, and passenger cars.
To how many countries does São José dos Campos export?
In 2025, companies from São José dos Campos exported to approximately 120 countries, selling around 403 different types of products, a level of diversification that reflects the sophistication of the local production base.
Is Embraer solely responsible for the city's export performance?
No. Although the aerospace sector is the main driver, the city has significant operations from GM, Ericsson, Eaton, Boeing, and other multinational companies that contribute to exports in the automotive, telecommunications, and advanced engineering sectors.
How does SJC's logistics infrastructure support exports?
The city is 71 km from Guarulhos Airport, 111 km from the Port of São Sebastião, and integrated into the national rail network. This combination of transport modes offers flexibility and logistical competitiveness for exporting companies located in the municipality.
Is the growth in exports from SJC sustainable?
The data suggests that this is the case. The trajectory is consistent, with growth of almost 60% between 2021 and 2024, supported by a diversified production base, an active innovation ecosystem, the presence of multinational companies, and the continuous training of a skilled workforce.
