São Paulo – The record posted in January in dry pepper exports from Brazil to the Arab countries grossed USD 6.4 million. The figure was made public by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) and reflects an increase in demand that has taken place even amid the pandemic, explains Erasmo Carlos Negris, administrative director at the Cricaré Basin Farmers Cooperative (Coopbac).
The Espírito Santo’s cooperative produces and exports pepper and ships 70% if its sales to the Arab countries. Eleven countries in the bloc import the product from Brazil: United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Oman, Palestine, Tunisia, Iraq, Libya, and Sudan.
Coopbac exports dried black and white pepper. “The pepper goes through a traceability process to ensure the contracts concluded. The cooperative shipped around 3,000 tonnes of spieces in 2020,” Negris told ANBA.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has seen several industries slow down, but agriculture products, including pepper, have turned it up. “The pandemic have restrained some activities, but the shipped volume of black pepper have increased due to the good port logistics in Brazil, as well as an increased output in the country, making Brazil a major player as a spice supplier to several buying countries,” said Negris.
The cooperative’s chair believes the demand in Arab countries are key to meet Coopbac’ goals of establishing itself as a standard supplier in the spice industry.
So believes Biospicefoods commercial assistant José Tarcísio Malacarne Jr. The brand trades pink pepper, white pepper, black pepper, Jamaica pepper, cloves, and Brazilian nuts. Malacarne explains the Arabs are a traditional, ever-growing market for peppers. “The Arab countries has always purchased a lot but have stood out in recent years and they’re a major pepper market for us,” he said.
- Find out more: Brazilians grossed USD 33 million at Gulfood
This was the company’s second time running in Gulfood, a food industry show that takes place in Dubai, UAE. “Despite the pandemic, we managed to sign deals with buyers and break into new markets this year,” the executive pointed out. Biospicefoods ships peppers to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Iraq, UAE, Palestine, and Morocco.
Translated by Guilherme MIranda
