Brazilian consumers are increasingly seeking high-quality, dietary supplements, driven by rising health awareness and a growing aging population. According to a report by Grand View Research, the Brazil dietary supplements market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2025 to 2030. With a health-conscious and digitally engaged population, Brazil offers a valuable opportunity for U.S. companies looking to expand their reach in Latin America.
But while the market potential is undeniable, selling dietary supplements in Brazil comes with important challenges. To succeed, your business must offer the local payment methods Brazilian shoppers expect, ensure seamless local payment processing, protect against fraud, and build a scalable operation that supports long-term growth.
The key to overcoming these hurdles is to partner with a full-service, cross-border payment provider that specializes in the Brazilian market. In this article, we’ll show you how to navigate the local payments landscape and set your supplement brand up for success in Brazil.
Understanding Brazilian Consumers: More Than Just Credit Cards
Relying solely on international credit cards is one of the most common and limiting mistakes U.S. brands make when selling dietary supplements in Brazil. While credit cards may be widely used in the U.S., this isn’t the case here. Around 60 million Brazilians don’t have credit cards—meaning that relying solely on this payment method cuts off access to an entire segment of consumers.
Even for those who do have credit cards, using them internationally isn’t a simple process. Customers must ask their bank to enable the card for international use, and the fees charged when making international purchases are far from transparent. The true cost—which includes both a high IOF (tax on financial operations) and a bank markup—is only revealed on the customer’s monthly credit card statement. Combined with the fact that international transactions are often declined by local banks, you end up with abandoned checkouts, lost sales, and a lack of trust in your brand.
Most important, however, is the fact that Brazilian consumers have rapidly embraced an entirely different payment method: Pix, the instant payment system launched by Brazil’s Central Bank in 2020. In just a handful of years, Pix has become the most popular payment method in the country—and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. According to projections, Pix could represent up to 50% of all e-commerce payments in Brazil by 2027.
With its speed, security, and ease of use, Pix—and its evolving features like Automatic Pix for recurring payments—is becoming a popular alternative to credit cards for online purchases. For cross-border sellers, this underscores a critical truth: offering Pix is no longer optional—it’s essential for converting Brazilian shoppers.
Understanding these local payment preferences is the first step toward building trust, improving conversion rates, and positioning your supplement brand for long-term success in Brazil.
Tips for Selling Dietary Supplements in Brazil with Local Payments
To succeed in Brazil’s competitive e-commerce landscape, offering the right cross-border payment options is non-negotiable. Brazilian consumers expect a seamless checkout experience with familiar, trusted methods—and meeting these expectations is key to building trust and boosting conversions. In this section, we’ll offer several game-changing tips for localizing your payment infrastructure so your U.S. supplement brand can not only sell but also scale in the Brazilian market.
Offer Pix to Instantly Increase Your Sales
You already know Pix is the most widely used payment method in Brazil—and with PagBrasil Pix, your U.S. supplement store can accept Pix payments simply, securely, and without the need for a local entity. Our fully integrated solution was built to meet the needs of cross-border commerce, allowing U.S. brands to offer a trusted local payment experience that drives real results.
In addition to standard Pix, PagBrasil also offers 1-Click Pix, an exclusive solution that enables returning customers to pay with Pix instantly—without scanning a QR code or re-entering information. This creates a frictionless, one-click experience that significantly increases conversion rates for repeat purchases.
What’s more, with PagBrasil Pix and 1-Click Pix, your store can deliver the seamless payment experience Brazilian shoppers expect at a lower cost than international credit cards, helping you convert more customers, build trust, and grow your brand in Brazil, all while boosting your bottom line.
Secure Your Credit Card Sales with a Localized Anti-Fraud System
Even with the popularity of Pix, credit cards are still widely used by Brazilian consumers for online purchases and are therefore an essential part of your localized payment strategy. However, they come with increased exposure to fraud, especially for international merchants unfamiliar with the local risk landscape. This means you need a robust, localized anti-fraud system to protect your e-commerce business and maintain customer trust.
That’s where PagShield® comes in. Developed by PagBrasil specifically for the Brazilian market, PagShield® is an advanced fraud prevention solution tailored to the unique patterns and behaviors of credit card fraud in Brazil. It uses intelligent risk analysis to detect and block suspicious transactions in real time, without compromising conversion.
By integrating PagShield® into your checkout, you can maximize approval rates, minimize chargebacks, and protect your revenue, all while delivering a safe and smooth shopping experience for your customers.
Turn One-Time Brazilian Buyers into Subscribers with Easy Recurring Payments
In the supplements industry, subscriptions are a powerful strategy to boost customer loyalty and create predictable, recurring revenue. Whether you’re offering vitamins, protein powders, or wellness packages, a subscription model helps turn one-time buyers into long-term customers—while simplifying inventory planning and marketing.
To support this strategy, PagBrasil offers PagStream®, an advanced platform for managing recurring payments in Brazil with ease. PagStream® automates billing cycles, handles retries for failed payments, and gives you full control over your subscribers—all in one centralized dashboard.
PagStream® is also now fully integrated with Automatic Pix, the next evolution in recurring payments. As Brazil’s answer to direct debit, Automatic Pix allows merchants to charge customers automatically via Pix—combining the speed and security of Pix with the convenience of subscription billing. For supplement brands looking to grow sustainably in Brazil, this is a game-changer.
With PagStream® and Automatic Pix, your brand can scale recurring revenue effortlessly—while offering Brazilian consumers the modern payment experience they expect.
Reach Brazilian Shoppers Where They Are with Chat Commerce
In Brazil, WhatsApp is more than just a messaging app—it’s a vital sales channel. With over 93% of the population using WhatsApp, chat commerce has become a key part of how Brazilians discover products, ask questions, and complete purchases.
For supplement brands, this opens up a powerful opportunity: connect directly with consumers, build trust through conversation, and close sales in real time—all within the app they use most.
That’s where PagBrasil’s Payment Link solution comes in. With Payment Link, your team can generate secure, branded payment requests and send them via WhatsApp, email, SMS, or any other channel. Customers can choose from local payment options like Pix, digital wallets, or credit card, and complete their purchase instantly—without leaving the conversation.
Whether you’re following up on an abandoned cart, offering personalized product recommendations, or answering a customer inquiry, chat commerce + Payment Link gives you the flexibility to sell anytime, anywhere—and convert more shoppers with ease.
Beyond Payments: What U.S. Supplement Brands Need to Know Before Selling in Brazil
While offering the right payment methods is essential for success in Brazil, there are several non-payment considerations U.S. dietary supplement brands must also address to operate legally and effectively in the market.
Regulatory Compliance with Anvisa
Before selling to Brazilian consumers, your products must comply with Anvisa, Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency. It’s important to note that approval from the FDA does not guarantee acceptance in Brazil, as many ingredients allowed in the U.S. are restricted or prohibited locally. For merchants selling CBD-based products, the regulations are even stricter: sales are only permitted with a doctor’s prescription and explicit authorization from Anvisa. Failing to comply with these rules can result in legal issues, product seizures, and reputational damage.
Logistics and Delivery Expectations
Brazil’s size and geographic diversity present unique logistical challenges. While supplements are not currently affected by the Remessa Conforme customs program—a Brazilian federal program designed to streamline and regulate cross-border e-commerce shipments—timely delivery is still essential to meet Brazilian consumer expectations. That’s why partnering with a reliable courier that provides clear tracking and delivery updates is critical to ensuring a positive customer experience and avoiding complaints or returns.
Localization Beyond Payments
To build trust and boost conversions, your entire storefront should be fully localized. This includes:
- Displaying prices in Brazilian real (BRL)
- Translating your website and checkout into Portuguese (PT-BR)
- Providing Portuguese-language customer support with clear response times
Brazilians often reach out via WhatsApp, email, or other channels to clarify product details or delivery conditions. If your site isn’t clear—or doesn’t offer support in Portuguese—you risk losing potential customers before the sale even begins.
By addressing these operational and regulatory aspects upfront, your supplement brand will be much better positioned to succeed in Brazil’s promising, but highly specific, e-commerce market.
How to Successfully Sell Dietary Supplements in Brazil: What You Need to Get Right
Breaking into Brazil’s booming supplement market requires more than just translating your website or enabling international shipping. To truly succeed, U.S. brands need to localize their entire operation—from payments and logistics to compliance and customer support. Here’s a recap of the most important areas to focus on:
- Offer the Right Local Payment Methods
Brazilian shoppers expect local, familiar payment methods, including not just Pix, but also Boleto (Brazilian payment slips), digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and local credit and debit cards. Offering these flexible options not only improves trust but also significantly boosts conversion rates. - Protect Your Sales
Use tools like PagShield® to prevent fraud. This solution help safeguard your revenue, especially in a market with unique payment behaviors that could be flagged as fraudulent by US-based models. - Embrace Recurring Payments to Build Loyalty
Subscriptions are a perfect fit for the supplements industry—and Brazilian consumers are open to this payment model. With PagStream®, you can automate and manage subscription billing with ease, and when combined with Automatic Pix, your business can offer recurring Pix payments that are fast, secure, and hassle-free for customers. - Leverage Chat Commerce to Convert in Real Time
In Brazil, WhatsApp is a core part of the buying journey. Consumers often initiate conversations to clarify doubts, negotiate, or complete their purchase. PagBrasil’s Payment Link lets you close those sales right in the chat, by sending secure, branded payment requests that include the option to pay with any local payment method. - Localize Your Operation Beyond Payments
To build trust, your storefront must feel truly local. That includes not just showing prices in BRL but also translating your content and offering responsive customer support in Brazilian Portuguese.
Additionally, logistics play a key role. Brazil’s vast geography demands reliable shipping and accurate tracking, so partnering with a dependable courier is essential for maintaining delivery standards and customer satisfaction. - Navigate Regulation with Care
All supplement products must comply with Anvisa, Brazil’s health regulatory agency. Even if your product is FDA-approved, it may be restricted or banned in Brazil. Before entering the market, consult local legal experts or regulatory advisors to ensure full compliance.
Work With a Payment Partner That Knows Brazil Inside and Out
With over 15 years of experience in the Brazilian market, PagBrasil is the trusted partner for international brands looking to thrive in Brazil. Our team of specialists offers hands-on, personalized support, combining deep market knowledge with a clear understanding of your business needs.
We’re proud to power payments for some of the world’s leading international brands, helping them scale efficiently and compliantly in Brazil’s complex ecosystem.
And we don’t just follow innovation—we lead it. PagBrasil was the first to launch cutting-edge solutions like International Pix and Pix Roaming, designed to push the boundaries of what’s possible with Pix and cross-border commerce.
Want to learn how we can help your U.S. supplement brand succeed in Brazil?
