São Paulo – Brazil expanded its exports of oranges to the Arab countries from January to July this year. According to figures disclosed by the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex) of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Brazil shipped 1,900 tonnes of fruit to the Arab market in the period, against 1,800 in the same months in 2009. There was growth of 5.5%. In values, the growth was even greater, 23%. Revenues rose from US$ 814,000 from January to July last year to US$ 1.037 million this year.
Purchases were made by just one country in the region: Saudi Arabia, the third main importer of Brazilian oranges this year. Last year, in the Arab world, apart from the Saudis, who were also the main buyers in the period, Brazilian oranges were also purchased by the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar.
“Some Arab nations, like Algeria and Egypt, have orange production," said the executive president at the Brazilian Association of Citrus Exporters (CitrusBR), Christian Lohbauer, adding that this does not take place, however, in the Middle East.
According to Lohbauer, Brazil does not export many oranges. The bottleneck is sanitary, as, abroad, fruit with black dots are not accepted. The executive president at CitrusBR said that oranges that are exported are for table consumption, and need excellent appearance. Last year, for example, Brazil exported 26,000 tonnes of oranges, resulting in revenues of US$ 11 million. Up to July this year, sales totalled 16,900 tonnes, generating revenues of US$ 7.4 million. The main buyer was Spain.
But in the case of orange juice it is different. Brazil is the main global exporter. Last year, the country exported 2.06 million tonnes, with revenues of US$ 1.6 billion. The values include all kinds of orange juice, not concentrated, frozen and non-fermented. This year, up to July, sales totalled 1.04 million tonnes for a value of US$ 875 million. The Arab countries imported just US$ 5 million of this total. “In the Middle East, orange juice is drunk very watered, so consumption is low," explained Lohbauer.
*Translated by Mark Ament
