São Paulo – Exports from Brazil to Arab countries amounted to US$ 2.214 billion in January and February 2013, up 8% from the same period of last year, according to figures from the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. Imports stood at US$ 1.46 billion, up 20%. As a result, Brazil’s surplus in trade with the region was down 10% to US$ 754 million.
There was an increase in shipments of sugar, poultry, iron ore, maize, coffee, steel pipes, paper, ethanol, barley and electric engines. On the other hand, sales declined for beef, wheat, aluminium, soybean oil, tobacco, construction machinery, livestock, petroleum coke and bitumen, eggs and footwear.
Among the major markets, exports increased to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Libya and Tunisia. Exports declined to Egypt, Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq and Yemen.
On the other hand, Brazil’s imports of crude oil, fertilizers, diesel oil, liquefied natural gas, plastics, fisheries, glass items, clothing items, special fabrics and lead. Imports dropped for naphtha, aviation kerosene, urea, sulphur, aluminium, rubber, chemicals, impregnated fabric, and vegetables.
Among the leading supplier countries, Brazil’s imports from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the Emirates, Libya and Oman increased. Imports from Algeria, Kuwait, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia declined.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
