Import duty on imported tires rises to 30% starting today and could hit the wallets of Lavras drivers

Anyone who needs to replace car tires in Lavras in the coming months may find imported products more expensive. Since this Tuesday (10), the import duty on passenger car tires has gone from 25% to 30%, and the new rate is valid for 12 months, until November 9, 2027.

The decision was made by the Executive Management Committee of the Foreign Trade Chamber (Gecex) and published in the Diário Oficial da União, the federal official gazette, on Monday (9). The normal rate on these tires is 16%, but it had been at 25% since October 2024, on a temporary basis. Domestic industry had asked for 35%.

Which tires become more expensive

The change affects new tires for passenger cars and mixed-use vehicles. Motorcycle and truck tires were left out, which eases the burden on motorcycle couriers and truck drivers.

In practice, the biggest impact should be felt by those who drive a lot and change tires often, such as taxi drivers and app-based drivers, since imports, mainly from China and other Asian countries, now dominate the replacement market.

Industry and importers disagree

According to the National Association of the Tire Industry (Anip), the share of Brazilian manufacturers in replacement sales fell from 66% in 2019 to 30% through September 2026. The sector has 19 factories in the country and about 35,000 direct jobs, and the association says the higher tariff helps protect these jobs against competition it considers unfair.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian Association of Tire Importers and Distributors (Abidip) opposes the measure and warns that it is likely to make the product more expensive for consumers.

Does the store price rise 30%?

No. The 30% applies to the value of the tire at the point of entry into the country, not to the final price at the tire shop. How much of that reaches the consumer depends on the stock stores already have, each retailer's costs, and competition from domestic tires.

For those replacing tires now, the tip is to shop around at more than one store and compare the price of the imported tire with the domestic one in the same size before buying.