TITLE:
Virtual Water Flows of Brazil’s International Trade
AUTHORS:
Umberto Antonio Sesso Filho, Ricardo Luís Lopes, Carlos Alberto Gonçalves Junior, Emerson Guzzi Zuan Esteves, Patrícia Pompermayer Sesso
KEYWORDS:
Natural Resources, Water Balance, Input-Output, Environment
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.12 No.10,
October
17,
2024
ABSTRACT: The study aims to measure virtual water flows in Brazil’s international trade. The methodology is based on the input-output matrix, and the database used was the Eora Global Supply Chain Database. The results showed that Brazil exported 230.8 billion m3 of virtual water per year, representing approximately 34.7% of the water footprint of the national production system in 2015. Virtual water imports totaled 111.6 billion m3 with a positive balance (net exports) of 119.2 billion m3. The country is a net exporter of this resource except for trade relations with South America and Africa, regions with negative balances of −36 billion m3 and 3 billion m3, respectively. The main destinations for virtual water exports from Brazil are Europe, with 41% of the total exported, followed by Asia and North America, with values close to 20%. The fact that Brazil is a net exporter of water makes sustainable use of the resource important, as the diversity of climate, soil, and water availability at a regional level is a challenge, which makes it essential to increase the efficiency of the use and management of water resources.