São Paulo – Brazil is exporting beans to the Arab countries. According to data supplied by the Foreign Trade System (Siscomex) of the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, the country shipped 2,300 tonnes of beans to Arab nations in the first half this year. During the same period last year, only 4 tonnes were exported, according to information from the Siscomex.
Revenues from exports this year totalled US$ 1.45 million. The figure is still low in the face of Brazilian production in the segment, but represents growth over the same period of last year, when sales only totalled US$ 2,500. Nearly all of the exports – US$ 1.44 million – took place in June. The Arab countries that bought beans from Brazil were Egypt and the Emirates, Egypt having answered to the majority – US$ 1.37 million.
The Brazilian states that exported beans to the Arabs were Mato Grosso and Paraná. The state of Mato Grosso accounted for the majority of sales. Exports should continue to grow. In the first half this year, particularly in June and July, the Foreign Trade Department of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce Exterior was contacted by two Arab importers interested in buying beans from Brazil.
In these cases, what the organisation does is provide a list of registered Brazilian producers. The Arab companies that requested information were Elaatessam, a trading company from Egypt that made contact in July, and World Trade Company – Mag, from Algeria, which showed interest in June. According to the department coordinator, Francisca Barros, demand for the product has only emerged recently, and is not usual.
Brazil is not a large exporter of bean, as a consequence of its high domestic consumption rate. Production in the country, however, is increasing. By the end of the current crop, beans should cover 1.44 million hectares in the country. Brazil harvests three crops of beans per year. In the first crop, planted area grew by 9.6%, and in the second crop, by 4%. The third crop should see a reduction of 3% in area, according to the National Food Supply Company (Conab).
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
