São Paulo – Brazil increased its machinery exports to the countries in the Middle East and North Africa in 2012. According to figures disclosed by the Brazilian Machinery Manufacturers Association (Abimaq), sales to the region grew 17.8% last year, totalling US$ 362.05 million.
The main Arab destinations for domestic machinery exports were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Egypt and Oman. To the Saudis, Brazil sold US$ 117.28 million in products, 19.3% more than in 2011.
The main growth, however, was in sales to Yemen, which rose from US$ 172,900 in 2011 to US$ 2.01 million last year, growth of 1067%; and to Iraq, which bought US$ 2.48 million in machinery from Brazil in 2011 and US$ 12.43 million in 2012, 399% more.
Brazil also bought more machinery and equipment from the Middle East and North Africa last year. The country imported a total of US$ 9.18 million from the Arab world, growth of 2.3% over 2011, with the Emirates as the main supplier, with US$ 8.31 million.
Of the total exported by the machinery and equipment sector last year, Brazil exported US$ 13.2 billion, growth of 11.2% over 2011. Brazilian imports also grew, reaching US$ 30 billion, growth of 0.9% over 2011. The trade deficit in 2012 was US$ 16.8 billion, 5.9% less than in the previous year.
The countries from Latin America were the main destinations for the country’s exports, followed by nations in Europe and the United States. The most sold products abroad in 2012 were machinery for logistics and civil construction, components for the capital goods industry and machinery for infrastructure and base industry.
Gross revenues of the machinery and equipment sector in 2012 closed at R$ 80 billion (US$ 40 billion), 3% less than in 2011.
*Translated by Mark Ament
