São Paulo – Brazilian exports to the Arab nations in October totalled US$ 1.3 billion, growth of 58.9% over the same month last year, according to figures disclosed by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade and compiled by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. "This increase is a reflex of the continued economic growth of the Arab nations and of the stability of oil prices," said the organisation’s secretary general, Michel Alaby.
The five main destinations for Brazilian sales in the month were Saudi Arabia, with imports of US$ 276.4 million, the United Arab Emirates, with US$ 210.6 million, Egypt, with US$ 186.9 million, Bahrain, with US$ 126 million, and Algeria, with US$ 101.2 million.
The main products responsible for the growth were sugar (US$ 450.5 million), iron ore (US$ 277.6 million), iron ore (US$ 277.6 million), meats (US$ 273.3 million), grain (US$ 61.9 million) and aircraft (US$ 60 million). According to the Market Development manager at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Rodrigo Solano, the products that presented the greatest growth in exports were iron ore, with 300.5%, soy oil, with 119.2% and sugar, with 99.5%.
Apart from these, Solano pointed out the shipment of US$ 60 million in aircraft to Bahrain in October, which placed the country fifth among Brazilian buyers in the Arab nations from January to October. Another highlight was the sale of shoes, which grew 30% last month as against October 2009. Exports of shoes totalled US$ 3.1 million and were turned mainly to the United Arab Emirates (US$ 1.4 million).
Solano also pointed out the exports of machinery and equipment, which generated US$ 22.1 million in October, growth of 12.8%. In these products, the manager stated that what boosted sales was shipment of bulldozers, which grew 133%. In the sector of grain, the highlight was the greater sales of maize, which grew 47% in October.
"Exports of maize to the Arabs may be much stronger in coming years if promotion of the Brazilian product is developed, as it is a product with great demand among the Arab nations. Today, exports of maize (to the Arabs) are irregular," said Solano.
US$ 10.1 billion
From January to October, Brazilian exports to the Arab countries generated US$ 10.1 billion, growth of 32% over the same period last year. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Emirates, Algeria and Bahrain were the main destinations for Brazilian sales.
The products most shipped were sugar (US$ 3.2 billion), chicken and beef (US$ 2.72 billion), ore (US$ 1.85 billion), grain (US$ 304 million), grain (US$ 304 million) and aircraft (US$ 245.9 million).
In the accumulated result for the year, Brazilian imports from the Arab countries totalled US$ 5.73 billion, which resulted in growth of 31.6% over the first ten months in 2009. The main products bought by Brazil were fossil fuels (US$ 4.73 billion) and fertilizers (US$ 549.3 million). The main suppliers were Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Morocco and Kuwait.
*Translated by Mark Ament
