São Paulo – The countries of the Middle East import US$ 672 million in products for horses each year. The figure was obtained from a survey conducted by the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex), elaborated in order to show national companies the business opportunities in the segment that exist in the region. According to the Commercial Intelligence analyst at Apex, Rodrigo de Andrade Iglesias, the United Arab Emirates is the most promising market in the Middle East for horse-oriented products. The survey also points out that there is a large space for Brazil in exports of live cattle and horse-riding footwear, among the products studied.
The survey analysed the markets of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and Syria. Egypt, in North Africa, was also included due to the proximity with the Middle East. To point out the most promising regions and sectors for marketing, the Apex took into consideration Brazilian exports and the imports of each country in 2007. The markets evaluated were those for live animals – horses in this case -, leather products, which include gloves and articles for saddling, food, of vegetable origin, and boots for horse riding.
Of all the products for horses imported by the Middle East, US$ 175.4 million go to the Emirates. Iglesias recalls that the country has a horse riding social environment, which makes possible business in the area. Local authorities are involved in horse racing and the country is part of the global competition calendar in the sector. "The Emirates’ structure is among the best infrastructures for treatment, training and horse care, with horse riding centres, specific establishments for the sale of horse products, hospitals and specialized veterinary clinics," says the document.
The horse population of the Emirates is currently between 8,000 and 9,000 horses and the monthly maintenance cost of each animal is US$ 1,400. The vice president of the Emirates and emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, is among the most influential personalities in horse racing in the world, owns the largest horse farm in the Middle East and is the captain of the national Endurance team. The sport is a horseback marathon. Up to 2010 the country should complete, with investment of US$ 720 million, a housing complex for horses, to be called Escape. The site should have a hotel for over 200 horses and a spa.
According to Iglesias, in the study, the sectors in the Middle East that were pointed out as promising for Brazil are those in which the country is developed. In the area of shoes, according to the analyst, Brazil has a competitive advantage as it has a developed industry. In 2007, Brazil exported US$ 1.2 billion in shoes for horse riding and US$ 3.1 million in live horses. Argentina is the main global exporter in the horse market, according to Iglesias. To the analyst, though, Brazil may compete with the neighbouring country.
Brazilian companies are going to participate in a sector exhibition in Dubai, in the Emirates, from March 19th to 21st. Three companies in the area of horse food should be at the Dubai International Horse Fair, with the support of the National Association of Pet Food Manufacturers (AnfalPet) and the Apex.
*Translated by Mark Ament and Gabriel Pomerancblum
