São Paulo – The Arab countries expanded their purchases of ironworks products from Brazil by 275% in the first half of the year as against the same period in 2010. According to figures supplied by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, iron and steel exports to the region totalled US$ 55.4 million between January and March. In the same months of last year, sales were US$ 14.7 million. In volume, the expansion was even greater, from 22,300 tonnes to 90,600 tonnes, growth of 306%.
According to the secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, the products go mainly to the building sector in the Arab world. So much so that the two main buyers in the sector, among the Arabs, are Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, countries that invest in construction.
"Saudi Arabia has great investment in construction, mainly in its industrial cities," said Alaby. The Emirates, according to him, are also investing in building.
The main iron and steel products sold by Brazil to the Arab nations were semi-manufactured iron and steel products, with US$ 18 million, bars, with US$ 17 million, and billets, with US$ 11.9 million. Other products shipped to the region up to March were ferroniobium, an alloy, iron and steel laminates, as well as steel thread. The figures above include works in iron and steel, like chains and pipes.
The Emirates imported the greatest volume of sector products from Brazil between January and March. In total, they spent US$ 24 million with imports. In the same period in 2010, the Arab nation bought US$ 1.5 million. The volume was 43,400 tonnes, against 922 tonnes in the first quarter of last year.
Saudi Arabia was the second main market, with US$ 22.5 million, against US$ 12.7 million in early 2010. The volume was 36,700 tonnes up to March. The figures also include wrought iron.
*Translated by Mark Ament
