São Paulo – Exports from Brazil to Arab countries were up 8% year-to-date through November to USD 11.3 billion. The figures were compiled by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce Market Intelligence Department, based on Ministry of Economy data.
An Arab Chamber analysis shows that the growth came in spite of a 6.4% drop in total exports from Brazil. Arab countries as a bloc remained Brazil’s third biggest export destination.
Best-selling products to Arab countries were poultry, at 19% of total sales; sugar (pictured above) at 18%; iron ore at 15%; beef at 10%; and maize at 9%. As has been the case for the last few years, exports were dirven by agricultural and mineral commodities.
The Arab Chamber Marketing Department points out that exports went up for a few other items, like copper wire, with revenue up 21-fold to USD 97.3 million; gold, up 358% to USD 241 million; and turbojets, turboprops and other gas-fueled turbines, up 148% to USD 211.3 million.
Imports of Arab products to Brazil were down 7.7% to USD 6.4 billion. Mineral fuels have made up the bulk of imports for several years now, with fertilizers a far second. Other items play a very minor role, including plastics and plastic products and aluminum.
Brazilian-Arab trade was up 1.7% to USD 17.7 billion through November, with a USD 4.9 billion surplus on Brazil’s side.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
