How to Check a Brazilian Company Before You Trade
By the Vanguard Verify desk · Published 2026-10-31 · Updated 2026-10-31
Short answer: look the company up by its CNPJ (Brazil's national company tax number) on the Receita Federal's free public lookup, confirm the status is ATIVA and the name, address and activity match the paperwork, then check on the Siscomex lookup that the company is cleared (habilitada, often called "RADAR") to trade internationally. For ownership and capital, get a certidão simplificada from the state Junta Comercial. Then verify the bank account and contacts independently.
Why Brazil matters for commodity buyers
Brazil is a major origin for sugar, soybeans, soybean meal, coffee and corn, so many offers name Brazilian sellers, often "FOB Santos". Brazil's official registers are public and free, so a real exporter can be checked in minutes. See also Sugar FOB Santos: how to check the offer.
Step by step
- Get the full CNPJ. Ask the seller for its CNPJ and full legal name (razão social). A CNPJ has 14 characters, usually written 00.000.000/0001-00: the first 8 are the company root, the next 4 identify the establishment (0001 is normally the head office) and the last 2 are check digits. Since July 2026 new registrations can receive an alphanumeric CNPJ, with letters allowed in the first 12 positions; the last 2 stay numeric and existing numbers do not change.
- Run the free CNPJ lookup. The Receita Federal service on gov.br lets anyone consult a company's registration, print the comprovante de inscrição e de situação cadastral and see the partners and administrators (QSA). It is free and immediate.
- Read the result carefully. Check the status (situação cadastral), the opening date, the legal name, the trade name, the registered address and the main and secondary activity codes (CNAE). A sugar or soy exporter should show trading, wholesale or production activity, not only consulting or services.
- Check export clearance (RADAR). To operate in Siscomex, a company needs habilitação from the Receita Federal. The public "Consultar Habilitados a Operar no Comércio Exterior" service takes the 8-digit CNPJ root and shows whether the company is cleared. If the seller says it exports in its own name but is not cleared, ask who the actual exporter of record is.
- Get the Junta Comercial certificate. Each state has its own Junta Comercial. A certidão simplificada shows the name, CNPJ, address, share capital, activity, partners, last filing and registration status. Many Juntas offer an online authenticity check, so verify any certificate the seller sends.
- Match the people. The person signing the FCO or SPA should appear in the QSA or the Junta certificate, or hold a power of attorney (procuração) you can check.
- Verify the bank account yourself. Payment should go to an account in the same legal name, at a bank in Brazil or a clearly explained correspondent. Call the company on a number you found independently, not the one in the email.
What each check proves
| Check | Where | What it proves | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNPJ lookup | Receita Federal (gov.br) | The entity exists, its status, address, activity, partners | That it has cargo or can perform |
| RADAR / habilitação | Siscomex public lookup | The company is cleared to operate in foreign trade | Export volumes or product ownership |
| Certidão simplificada | State Junta Comercial | Share capital, partners, latest filings | Financial strength today |
| Independent call / bank check | Your own bank and research | The contact and account belong to that company | Quality of goods (use inspection) |
Red flags
- Status is anything other than ATIVA (for example SUSPENSA, INAPTA or BAIXADA).
- The CNPJ belongs to a different name, or the company was opened only months before offering large monthly volumes.
- Activity codes have nothing to do with the commodity offered.
- Share capital is tiny compared with the cargo value, with no explanation (for example, a trader using a producer as exporter of record).
- No RADAR clearance, but the seller insists it will be the exporter.
- The signer is not a partner or administrator and cannot show a power of attorney.
- Free email domains, a payment account outside Brazil in another name, or upfront fees before any document can be checked.
- The seller refuses to give the CNPJ. A real Brazilian company has one and it is printed on its invoices.
A clean registry record shows the company exists. It does not show it has the goods. Ask for proof of product the seller can stand behind, use an independent inspection, and pay through a bank instrument such as a documentary letter of credit. For the product side, see How to verify a coffee supplier.
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FAQ
Is the Brazilian CNPJ lookup free?
Yes. The Receita Federal CNPJ consultation on gov.br is free and open to anyone, and it lets you print the registration and status certificate.
What does RADAR mean for a Brazilian exporter?
RADAR is the common name for a company's habilitação from the Receita Federal to operate in Siscomex, Brazil's foreign trade system. You can check it free with the 8-digit CNPJ root.
Did the CNPJ format change in 2026?
From July 2026 new registrations can receive an alphanumeric CNPJ with letters in the first 12 positions. It stays 14 characters, the last 2 remain numeric, and existing CNPJs do not change.
Does an ATIVA status mean the seller is safe?
No. It shows the company is registered and active. It does not prove it owns the goods or can deliver, so still use proof of product, inspection and bank payment instruments.
Vanguard Verify is run by Vanguard Trade Capital Goods Wholesalers DWC-LLC, Dubai South, Licence 14282. This answer is general information, not legal or financial advice.