From the Newsroom*
São Paulo – Brazilian agribusiness exports to the Arab countries yielded US$ 201.8 million in February and were a little below than the total registered in the same month last year, which was of 202.5 million. The information is from the Ministry of Agriculture. Exports in general, however, increased by 30% and reached US$ 395 million in February 2006, which shows an increase in shipments of manufactured goods.
The main clients of Brazilian agribusiness during the month were Saudi Arabia (US$ 74.7 million), United Arab Emirates (US$ 20.3 million), Somalia (US$ 17.9 million), Egypt (US$ 17.4 million) and Lebanon (US$ 9.7 million). The great surprise was Somalia, which increased by 183% their imports in February. Sugar accounted for the entire business with the African country.
With the other countries exports were more diversified. Saudi Arabia imported mainly poultry and beef, sugar and wood; the Emirates poultry and beef, wood and paper products; Egypt beef, paper and tobacco; and Lebanon live cattle, beef and coffee.
Throughout the first two months of the year, shipments from the sector yielded US$ 443.7 million, against US$ 444.8 million in the same period in 2005. The main destinations were Saudi Arabia (US$ 125.8 million), Emirates (US$ 70.6 million), Egypt (US$ 59.5 million), Morocco (US$ 46 million) and Somalia (US$ 23.2 million).
*Translated by Silvia Lindsey
