São Paulo – Auto parts manufacturing company Fluidloc, based in Rio de Janeiro, has been exporting to Egypt for fifteen years now, and has a strong client in the Arab country, a large distributor that purchases 20% of the Brazilian company’s foreign shipments.
“Egypt is a very important market right now, because they develop our products with us,” said the CEO of the Brazilian company, Michel Ventura. “Besides, vehicles made in the two countries bear many similarities,” he added. General Motors and Volkswagen assemble automobiles in Egypt using parts made in Brazil.
According to him, the first contact with the Arab client took place in 1995, during the Automec trade show, held every two years at Anhembi, in São Paulo. “He enjoyed our products so much that even though the fair takes place in São Paulo, he made a point of visiting the plant in Rio de Janeiro before returning to Egypt,” said Ventura.
In the beginning, the importer purchased rubber artefacts used in braking parts and hydraulic packing. After a few years, he began importing repair kits for brake cylinders and packing.
Next came orders for full cylinders. “The orders grew as the relation of trust grew. He has visited our plant many times since we started selling to him. He usually combines his participation in the trade show with visits to suppliers,” he said.
The company was established 33 years ago, and aside from Egypt, it has been exporting to South American countries since 1990. Its products range from rubber items and repair kits to full cylinders. “We work with a more specific niche that has special applications for small volumes, in segments such as tractors, harvesters, lorries, buses and imported vehicles.”
The company does not disclose its revenue figures, it only informs that it holds a 5% share of the Brazilian hydraulic cylinder market. In Brazil, it has representations across the country.
Opportunities
Egypt is a possible partner of Brazil in the auto parts segment. As previously informed by ANBA, the country is interested in hosting facilities owned by Brazilian companies. The Egyptian economy grew by an average of 7% in the last three years. The country is regarded as having strong growth potential, alongside Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Turkey and South Africa. The group was designated by the Economist Intelligence Unit with the acronym Civets, similar to the BRICs, which refers to Brazil, Russia, China and India.
Representatives of the Brazilian Association of Auto Parts Manufacturers (Sindipeças) have met with Egyptian authorities, and the organization promoted a seminar on business opportunities in the Arab country in April this year, in partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
Aside from the domestic market, Egypt has trade agreements with the European Union, Arab and African countries.
Contact
Fluidloc
Telephone: (+55 21) 2474-9500
E-mail: export@fluiloc.com.br
Site: www.fluidloc.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
