São Paulo – Exports from Brazil to the Arab countries reached US$ 12.4 billion from January to October, growth of 23.17% over the US$ 10.06 billion in the same period last year, according to figures disclosed by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade and compiled by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
There was also growth in the comparison between October 2011 and the same month in 2010. Last month, shipments generated US$ 1.352 billion, 4.88% more than the US$ 1.289 billion of October 2010. In comparison with September this year, however, exports dropped 1.15%.
To the CEO at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Michel Alaby, the growth in exports this year, as against last year, should be 25%, and he adds that the reduction in sales in comparison with September does not represent a tendency. “The countries of the Gulf probably reduced their food stocks [established] for Ramadan and for the period of pilgrimage [to Mecca],” he said. Sales in October as against September dropped in the Gulf, but grew in North Africa and the Levant region.
In October, Egypt was the main importer of Brazilian products. The country purchased the equivalent to US$ 340.82 million, 82.37% more than in the same month last year. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Algeria were, along with Egypt, the main buyers of Brazilian products in the region in the period. Sales grew to Algeria but dropped to the Emirates and Saudi.
Brazilian imports of products from the Arab countries also grew in October. According to the ministry, Brazil imported US$ 1.324 billion, growth of 118% over the US$ 607.14 million bought in the region in the same period in 2010.
Saudi Arabia expanded sales to Brazil by 247.97% in October 2011, as against the same month in 2010. One year ago, the country exported the equivalent to US$ 186.84 million to the Brazilian market. Last months, shipments totalled US$ 650.26 million. Growth in Saudi sales to Brazil reached 1,646% in October as against September, when the country sold just US$ 37.23 million.
Products
Sugar was the product most sold by Brazil to the Arab world in October, a total of US$ 444.1 million, a reduction of 1.45% over the same month in 2010. Sales of beef, which totalled US$ 281.5 million, grew 3%, and those of iron ore dropped 3%. Exports of grain grew 159.7% in October 2011 and generated US$ 160.8 million. Sales of coffee, mate tea and spices doubled in the period.
Fuels were the main products exported to Brazil by the Arab countries. In October this year, Brazil imported US$ 1.171 billion in fuel from the nations of the region, growth of 161.4% over the US$ 448.2 million of October last year. Sales of fertilizers to Brazil totalled US$ 88.2 million this year, a reduction of 26.4% as against October 2010.
The trade balance in the first ten months of the year was US$ 3.746 billion favourable to Brazil. The performance, however, was worse than in the same period in 2010, when the surplus was 15.17% greater.
*Translated by Mark Ament
