Since 2004 Forbes makes a list of the best companies in the world based on their rankings for sales, profits, assets and market value. Their justification for using a composite ranking is simple: One metric alone can give a false impression about corporate size.

In total, the global 2000 companies now account for $30 trillion in revenues, $2.4 trillion in profits, $119 trillion in assets and $39 trillion in market value. Around the world, 72 million people work for these companies.

The U.S. still dominates the global list, but countries like Brazil are rapidly adding companies to the list. In comparison to 2007, Brazil added 12 more companies in 2008 and the best company from Brazil, Petrobras, went from rank #50 in 2007 to rank #29 in 2008.

The requirements for the global high performers list are: shares traded in the U.S. or American depositary receipts, a share price of at least $5, positive equity and sales of at least $1 billion.

Maps of Brazil’s performance on Forbes List:

Below there a list of the top 10 Brazilian companies in Forbes 2000 list:

Rank   Company

29       Petrobras-Petróleo Brasil

76       Vale

85       Banco Bradesco

132     Banco do Brasil

175     Itaúsa

233    Unibanco Group

492    Eletrobrás

736    Usiminas

760    Tele Norte Leste

766    Metalurgica Gerdau