Brazil leads in Florida trade

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Doug Krizner: South Florida has a lot of Spanish speakers. But increasingly, the language of Florida business is Portuguese. Brazil is the state’s largest trading partner. And this week, Florida Governor Charlie Crist spent time in Brazil, solidifying those ties. From the Americas Desk at WLRN, Marketplace’s Dan Grech reports.

Dan Grech: Florida Governor Charlie Crist traveled to Brazil with representatives from 57 companies and the state’s five main ports.

Trade expert Carl Cira is with Florida International University:

Carl Cira: Brazil is key, and vital to Florida. It’s the number one trading partner by far.

Bilateral trade last year totaled $11 billion. Florida sold Brazil aircraft parts and computers. Brazil sold Florida furniture and orange juice.

Govenor Crist made various stops, but his most important was Barra Bonita, the world’s largest biofuels refinery.

Cira: Brazil is the pioneer in ethanol technology. The puzzle is whether or not ethanol can be made more efficient than it currently is.

Govenor Crist wants to turn Florida’s sugarcane fields into fuel, and he’s hoping to learn how from Brazil.

I’m Dan Grech for Marketplace.