São Paulo – Brazilian agribusiness exports to the Middle East exceeded over US$ 1 billion in October, up nearly 50% from October 2011. Sales to Africa reached US$ 910 million, up 2.8% using the same basis of comparison, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply.
As for Arab countries, the ministry reported increased sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Exports to the former amounted to US$ 252.6 million, up 67.8% from October 2011. Exports to the latter amounted to US$ 220 million, up 60.5%.
The two nations are in the list of top 20 Brazilian agribusiness target countries. Other Arab countries in the list are Egypt, which imported the equivalent of US$ 213 million in October, down 27.8%, and Algeria, which imported US$ 141 million, up 22.8% from October last year. The main agribusiness items imported by these countries were sugar, meats and cereals.
Overall, Brazilian agribusiness exports stood at US$ 9.64 billion in October, up 11.8% from the same period last year. The figure was an all-time high for the month, according to the ministry.
Year-to-date, Brazilian agricultural exports reached US$ 80.88 billion, up 1.8% from the first 10 months in 2011.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
