São Paulo – Brazilian biscuit exports to the Arab world totalled US$ 3.38 million last year, which represented growth of 30.95% over 2007. The growth was greater than that of total Brazilian sector sales, which totalled 24.5%. "We are very optimistic regarding this market. They are great consumers," stated the president of the Association of Pasta Foodstuffs and Biscuits of the State of São Paulo (Simabesp), José dos Santos dos Reis.
Despite the growth, Reis reckons that exports to the Arab market represented just 3% of total Brazilian biscuit sales. "It is still a virgin market to us," said the president, who believes in the potential of the region. The main destinations for biscuit exports among the Arabs were Libya, with imports of US$ 809,960, Saudi Arabia, with US$ 793,820, the United Arab Emirates, US$ 405,860, Lebanon, US$ 398,620 and Jordan, US$ 225,230. Stuffed sweet biscuits, wafers and crackers were the most shipped.
According to Reis, to promote Brazilian biscuits in the Arab world, Simabesp is going to participate in meeting Flavours from Brazil, an event promoted by the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex) in partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, to be promoted in February, in Dubai. "We are also going to take some companies to exhibit," he said.
The Flavours from Brazil event should count on 40 Brazilian companies in the food sector that are not only going to exhibit their products in Dubai, but are also going to participate in business roundtables with importers from several Arab countries. According to information disclosed by the Apex-Brasil, this is an opportunity for companies to learn about solutions for retail promotion in one of the main economies in the world.
According to the Simabesp president, Brazilian companies are already used to the favourite tastes for the Arabs and have certification to export their products with safety. "The producers are aiming at adapting their products to the exact specifications desired by the consumers. Both on the domestic and on the foreign market," said Reis. The sector has also been investing in healthier packages and ingredients, like sesame seed, rye and oats. "All to supply consumers," he added.
Expectations
Last year, shipments of biscuits totalled 1.17 million tonnes, against 1.13 million in 2007. The estimate for 2009 is for growth of 2.2%. According to Reis, despite the crisis, exports should grow 12% this year, less than in 2008. "In the Arab world we are going to grow much more," he said, adding that if the dollar continues stabilised, at 2.30 or 2.40 Brazilian reals per dollar, the sector should be more competitive. Reis also recalled that Brazil is the second main producer of biscuits in the world, losing only to the United States.
*Translated by Mark Ament
