Giuliana Napolitano
São Paulo – The Brazilian ceramic tile sector has started operating so as to export to the Middle East and reach the Iraqi market. The first step was taken by Buschinelli, a company in the ceramic pole of Santa Gertrudes, in the countryside of São Paulo, largest centre for sector production in the country. The firm closed a contract for monthly sales of 100,000 square metres of ceramic tiles to a US company, which will then reexport to Iraq.
The stop in the United States is necessary as the North American country has vetoed companies from countries that did not support the war in Iraq from participating in country reconstruction – as was the case with Brazil. In December last year, the Pentagon announced a list of little more than 60 countries authorized to sell to the Iraqi market. The list was not well received, and criticism included favouring US companies.
The White House produced another list a little later and decided to permit companies from other nations to participate in the reconstruction, but as subcontractors, that is, being hired as suppliers of US companies.
Buschinelli decided to take advantage of the opening and of the experience they have in selling to the United States and to the Middle East. According to Costa, half of what the company exports goes to the US market and around 5% goes to the Middle East, mainly to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Kuwait, and Lebanon. The rest is shipped to Europe, Africa, and Central and South America.
"I know that we are one of the first Brazilian companies in the sector to start selling to Iraq in this post-war period," declared Costa. But according to the president of the Brazilian Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers (Anfacer), César Gomes Junior, other companies should try to enter the market soon. "Iraq is certainly an option and other companies can also participate," he stated.
The United States
Brazil is currently the third and largest world exporter of ceramic tiles, and sector foreign trade has been rising. In 2003, the high was 22.3%, to US$ 250.7 million, according to Anfacer figures. This year, the association believes in an increase in trade of around 20%, to US$ 300 million.
The Arab market is interesting. "The region has great potential," evaluated Gomes Junior. Saudi Arabia, for example, is the fifth largest world importer in the sector. For the time being, though, sales to the Middle East and North Africa are still low. The largest destination for ceramic products is the United States, the main global buyer in the sector, which absorbed over 40% of all the Brazilian export, distantly followed by Canada (6.7%), South Africa (5.6%), Chile (4.9%), and Porto Rico (3.8%).
Exclusive design
One bit of news that may help increase foreign business was announced this week at the Revestir, the sector fair that began last Tuesday (9) and will go on to Saturday (13) in São Paulo. The first Brazilian line of design for ceramic tiles was released, informed the Brazilian Ceramic Centre (CCB), the organisation that certifies industry export.
According to a spokesperson for the CCB, the sector currently mostly imports products designed in Italy and Spain, which are no longer up to date when they arrive in Brazil making export harder. The new line was developed by the Ceramic Technological Innovation Centre (Citec), established in 2002 by the CCB and by the São Paulo Ceramic Tile Association (Aspacer) in the city of Santa Gertrudes.
Contacts
Brazilian Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers (Anfacer)
Tel: (+5511) 289-7555
www.anfacer.org.br
Buschinelli
Tel: (+5519) 3545-9999
www.buschinelli.com.br
Brazilian Ceramic Centre (CCB)
Tel: (+5511) 5575-2899
www.ccb.org.br
Reconstruction of Iraq
US government portal with information about tenders, selected countries, etc.
www.export.gov/iraq
