Alexandre Rocha*
São Paulo – Brazilian agribusiness exports to the Arab countries generated US$ 2.98 billion between January and September this year, an increase of 15.37% in comparison to the same period last year. In general, sector foreign sales increased 11% in the first nine months of the year and reached US$ 36 billion. These figures were disclosed by the Ministry of Agriculture.
"Sales to the Arab countries have grown above the national average. Although the region is already a traditional market for the sector, Brazil continues winning markets there," stated the president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Antonio Sarkis Jr.
The growth of agribusiness shipments, however, was below the increase of general shipments from Brazil to the Arab countries, which totalled US$ 4.53 billion between January and September, 18.7% more than in the same period last year. "This shows greater expansion in the sale of manufactured products," observed Sarkis.
The main products shipped in the first nine months were sugar, meats (cattle and chicken), the soy complex (oil, ground and grain), products of forestry origin (paper, wood and derivatives), coffee, live cattle, tobacco, leather and derivatives, dairy products, fibre and textile products.
Some products that are not yet among the most traded had, however, expressive increases in shipments. This is the case of fruit juice, mainly orange, whose exports to the region generated US$ 9.6 million, or 118.7% more than in the period from January to September 2005.
"We always discuss the potential of the juice and mashed fruit sector. In the case of orange juice, for example, Brazil is the main producer in the world, but to the Arab countries, exports were insignificant," stated Sarkis.
Other increases took place in shipments of manufactured products like cereals, flours and food concoctions, which generated US$ 9.8 million in the period, an increase of 227%, and spices (US$ 3.5 million, 673% more). Even among the main products there have been significant increases, as is the case with sugar in bulk (97%), cattle beef (41.5%), tobacco (166%), fibres and textile products (77%), among others.
The markets that purchased most agribusiness products in the period were Egypt (US$ 614 million, 49% more than in the same period in 2005), Saudi Arabia (US$ 608 million, 6% more), the United Arab Emirates (US$ 443 million, 23% more), Algeria (US$ 274 million, 13% more), Morocco (US$ 216.5 million, 0.9% less) and Yemen (US$ 190.5 million, 32.5% more).
In the month
In the month of September alone, Brazilian agribusiness shipments to the Arabs generated US$ 358 million, growth of 7.1% in comparison to the same period last year. The main markets were Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, the Emirates, Yemen and Morocco. The products most sold were sugar, meats, the soy complex, coffee and forestry products.
*Translated by Mark Ament