São Paulo – The Brazilian market imported 4,300 tonnes of aluminium and its products from the Arab world in the first quarter of this year, growth of 132% over the 1,800 tonnes of the same period in 2011. In revenues, the expansion was greater, US$ 3.5 million from January to March last year, rising to US$ 9.9 million this year. That is, the growth was 184%, according to figures disclosed by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.
Brazilian imports from the Arab countries included products like cables, scrap and residues, alloys in bulk, as well as alloy wire and accessories for pipes, all in aluminium. Aluminium cables were the products that represented the greatest volume in purchases in the first quarter, with 1,900 tonnes and US$ 5.6 million, followed by scrap and residues, with 2,200 tonnes and US$ 3.2 million. Then came alloy wire, followed by alloys and accessories.
The country that supplied most aluminium products to Brazil was Bahrain, with 2,100 tonnes and US$ 6.1 million in revenues. The second main supplier was Saudi Arabia, with 1,700 tonnes and US$ 2.8 million, and the third, Tunisia, with 291.7 tonnes and US$ 523,700. Also selling aluminium products to Brazil were the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
According to figures disclosed by the Brazilian Aluminium Association (Abal), the country’s imports of aluminium and aluminium products totalled 29.4 million tonnes in January this year. The value represented US$ 112 million. There was 11% reduction in the volume purchases abroad and 14% in expenses in comparison with the first month of 2011. Brazil, however, is the world’s sixth main producer of primary aluminium, according to Abal figures, and also exports the commodity.
*Translated by Mark Ament
