The R$6.5 billion that BNDES, Brazil's state development bank, requested from the federal government is nearly double the first installment it already received, and it shows how long the line has grown: since September 17, companies hit by United States tariffs have filed R$14.3 billion in loan requests under the Brasil Soberano program, according to Folha de S.Paulo. In practice, there are two reais of demand for every real available. For workers, this money is what keeps factories running in sectors that lost sales to the American market.
The request was sent on Friday (2) to ministers Dario Durigan (Finance), Bruno Moretti (Planning and Budget) and Márcio Elias Rosa (Development, Industry, Trade and Services), as well as the executive secretaries of the three ministries. The document repeats a request first made on September 28. In it, the bank says the first installment, of R$7 billion, "proved insufficient given the demand observed right at the program's opening".
The funds are already legally authorized. The R$6.5 billion is the remaining share of a reinforcement of up to R$13.5 billion approved in July through a medida provisória, a presidential decree that takes effect immediately but must later be confirmed by Congress. BNDES is only asking for the money to be transferred.
The Brasil Soberano program, explained
The program was created in August 2025 to offer credit on better terms than the market to companies hit by the US tariff hike on Brazilian goods. A second phase, in March this year, expanded coverage because of the effects of the Middle East conflicts. The third round was announced on July 22 with R$18.5 billion and reached R$22.6 billion after the bank added R$4.1 billion of its own funds in September.
The terms explain the line. Under the program, companies have up to five years to repay the loans, according to Folha, at a cost below what commercial banks charge. Because this is credit, the money must be paid back to the bank within that period.
Folha contacted BNDES and the three ministries, which had not responded by the time the newspaper published its story. So far, Folha is the only outlet to report the request, and the figures cited appear in the document obtained by the newspaper.