São Paulo – The Arab countries are among the priority markets for Brazilian sweets exports in 2011 and 2012, according to information supplied by the Brazilian Cocoa and Confectionery Manufacturers Association (Abicab).
“The Arab market is strategic right now. The bulk of exports to Africa go to the Arabs and exports to the Middle East are on the rise, whereas sales to the United States and Europe are declining," claims Rafael Ribeiro, the export manager at Abicab.
Last year, Brazilian exports of Brazilian sweets totalled US$ 303 million, out of which 9% went to Middle Eastern countries. "From 2009 to 2010, exports to the region grew by 8.4%. We are expecting growth of 10% this year. We hope that the crisis in the region will not harm our sales," claims Ribeiro, referring to the protests that have spread across the Arab world.
According to the Abicab export manager, this and next year, the priority export markets for Brazilian sweets will be the United States, Mexico, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Argentina. He stresses, however, that the inclusion of Saudi Arabia is part of an effort that should be extended to the other countries in the region. "Whenever we say Saudi Arabia, we are talking about the Arab world."
Ribeiro explains that apart from its yearly attendance at the Gulfood, the leading food industry in the Middle East, held in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, the organization will also conduct a market survey in the Arab countries to gain greater insight into the consumption habits, the competition, and the sweets distribution chain in the region. Commercial promotion actions will include invitations for Arab journalists to come to Brazil, and advertising on Middle Eastern magazines.
Gulfood
One of the best indicators that the Middle East is a strong market for Brazilian sweets is the result obtained by the enterprises that attended the last edition of the Gulfood, held from February 27th to March 2nd this year.
At its booth, the Abicab featured companies Docile, Dori, Embaré, Florestal, Garoto, Jazam, Rician and Peccin. The enterprises traded the equivalent of US$ 1.3 million at the event, with perspectives of additional business worth US$ 8 million during the year, generated by the 770 contacts made at the fair. The value traded at the event 116% higher than in the 2010 edition, when sales reached US$ 650,000.
"The companies that attended have already enrolled for the next edition. It goes to show that exports are growing," claims Ribeiro.
Abicab has a total of 103 affiliated enterprises, out of which 50% are exporters. In 2010, the sweets industry generated a turnover of US$ 9 billion in Brazil. The leading importers of Brazilian sweets are Argentina, the United States, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
