Brazilians spent US$ 2.45 billion on international travel in July, the highest figure in the Central Bank's historical series, which began in January 1995. At the month's closing exchange rate, that is roughly R$ 12.4 billion leaving the country in airfares, hotels and shopping.
The number, released on Thursday (27) by the Central Bank and reported by G1 and CNN Brasil, tops the previous record set in July 2014, when spending reached US$ 2.41 billion. From January to July, Brazilians' expenses abroad total US$ 15.1 billion, also a record for the period.
Two factors explain the jump. The first is a cheaper dollar: the US currency closed July at R$ 5.0696, down 7.64% for the year, which lowers the price in reais of tickets and lodging. The second is the calendar: July is school holiday month in Brazil, when family trips pick up.
Understand
The Central Bank books this spending in the international travel account, part of the current account, the balance of everything Brazil pays to and receives from the rest of the world. When the dollar falls, the same budget in reais buys more US currency, so families can travel more or spend more abroad.
In practice, a trip budgeted at US$ 2,000 cost about R$ 800 less in July than it would have at the late-2025 exchange rate, when the dollar was near R$ 5.49. The difference covers a few hotel nights or part of the airfare.
On the other side of the counter, foreigners spent US$ 899 million in Brazil in July, according to CNN Brasil. That left the travel account with a negative balance of US$ 1.6 billion for the month, 7.9% wider than in July 2025.
External accounts and investment
The overall current account deficit, meaning how much more the country spent abroad than it received, reached US$ 8.11 billion in July, against US$ 6.94 billion a year earlier. From January to July, the gap stands at US$ 35.97 billion, down 9.6% from the same period in 2025.
Foreign direct investment keeps covering that gap. Overseas investors put US$ 54.44 billion into Brazil from January to July, up from US$ 43.74 billion a year earlier, more than enough to finance the deficit. In July alone, inflows were US$ 7.46 billion, below the US$ 8.4 billion of July 2025.