This article aims to analyze the trading activities of Francisco Pinheiro, portuguese merchant of wholesale trade, and his commercial agents in the Captaincy of São Paulo in the first half of the XVIIIth century, with the salt trade, monopolized product by the portuguese Crown. However, the salt contract offered to your agency more embarrassment than a secure way to amass wealth, as he faced competition from illegal "owners of the salt" in the region and the interference of municipalities in his business.
regional history; commercial exclusive; salt; colonial São Paulo