According to survey data released by the Brazilian Electrical and Electronics Industry Association (Abinee), informal channel (grey market) smartphone sales nationwide decreased by 7% in 2025.

A report from the Brazilian website "tecmundo" highlighted that this achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Abinee, the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), the National Consumer Office of the Ministry of Justice (Senacon), the Federal Police, the Federal Revenue Service, and the legislative branch.

Despite the decline in informal smartphone sales, Abinee emphasized that the expected targets have not yet been met and called for continued collaborative efforts to completely eliminate the grey market. Statistics show that the share of informal devices in the smartphone market decreased by 13 percentage points over the past two years, dropping from 25% in 2023 to 12% in 2025.

Abinee pointed out that although consumers may find more competitive prices through unofficial channels, the average price of informal market smartphones in 2025 has risen from 1000 reais to 2500 reais, which may be one of the reasons for the decrease in sales.

The association noted that these phones are typically imported through unofficial channels in Paraguay or brought in by consumers themselves to avoid paying taxes.

Humberto Barbato, the President of Abinee, stated that the decrease in informal smartphone sales indicates that "significant progress has been made through systematic exposure of issues, combined with collaborative efforts in regulation, communication, and improvement measures."

He emphasized, "Despite the significant progress, this phenomenon is still concerning and requires ongoing action. We hope that with the continuation of these actions, the proportion of informal channels can significantly decrease by 2026."

The joint actions of various agencies have mainly focused on imposing fines on major e-commerce companies. Goods from companies like "Mercado Livre," Amazon, and Magazine Luiza have been seized or fined.

Anatel has been exerting pressure on the market. This year, the agency sought to block the operations of e-commerce giants Amazon and Mercado Livre, with both companies filing lawsuits to prevent potential shutdowns. The controversy revolves around the fact that some smartphones have not obtained certification for sale in Brazil but have been advertised on these companies' platforms.

Abinee anticipates intensifying efforts to combat the grey market in 2026. This issue remains "a major challenge facing Brazil," and although sales have decreased, they have not yet reached the satisfactory level for industry manufacturers.