São Paulo – Brazilian ceramic product exports to the Arab world grew 35% in the first nine months of this year as against the same period last year, according to figures disclosed by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. The figures, however, are not very expressive. Sales reached US$ 5.3 million from January to September 2011, as opposed to US$ 3.9 million in the same period in 2010.
Shipments included bricks, slabs or plates, tiles, refractory products, bathroom ceramics and decoration objects. The greatest volume of exports was in bricks, plates and tiles, with around US$ 5 million. These products topped the list of exports in the first nine months of last year.
The volume of ceramic artefacts exported by Brazil to the Arab world up to September was 8,100 tonnes. In the same period in 2010, shipments totalled 6,700 tonnes. That is, the growth was 20%, below the growth in revenues, which signals greater prices or exports of higher value-added products.
Figures disclosed by the Brazilian Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers (Anfacer) show that Brazil should produce 801 million square metres of ceramic tiles this year. If the figure is confirmed, there should be 6.5% growth over last year, when production was 753 million square meters. Projected exports are 59 million square meters, against 62.5 million in 2010.
On its site, Anfacer informs that of the total exported last year, 6.86% was turned to Africa and 1.01% to Asia. The main market in the sector, excepting Brazil, however, is South America.
*Translated by Mark Ament
