São Paulo – Brazilian agribusiness exports to the Middle East were up 0.2% November-on-November, according to information released this Monday (9th) by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. Exports to the region netted US$ 850.2 million in November this year and US$ 848.2 million in November 2012. The Middle East accounted for 11.9% of total Brazilian agribusiness exports in November this year.
The Middle East comprises countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, but also non-Arab countries like Israel, Turkey and Afghanistan. Year-to-date through November, Brazilian agribusiness exports to the region were down 1.2% from the same period last year, and export revenues stood at US$ 7.6 billion. In the same period of 2012, revenues amounted to US$ 7.7 billion.
Brazilian agribusiness exports to Africa, where other Arab countries are located, were down 22.5% November-on-November, from US$ 777.2 million to US$ 602.5 million. Year-to-date, revenues were down 13.3% from US$ 7.8 billion through November last year to US$ 6.8 billion through November this year. Africa accounted for 7.3% of total exports.
Brazil’s total agribusiness exports were down 7.9% to US$ 7.16 billion in November this year from US$ 7.7 billion in November last year. The leading exporting sectors were meats, at US$ 1.4 billion, soy bean, bran and oil, at US$ 1.16 billion, sugar and ethanol, at US$ 1.05 billion, cereals, flours and concoctions, at US$ 847 million, and forestry products, at US$ 749 million.
The bloc which imported the most Brazilian agribusiness products was Asia, followed by the European Union and the Middle East. Exports to Asian countries were up 0.6% and exports to European countries were down 6.9%. With regard to single countries, the ranking is topped by the Netherlands, followed by China, the United States, Venezuela, Japan and Belgium.
Year-to-date through November, total Brazilian agribusiness exports were up 5.6% to US$ 93.58 billion.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
