São Paulo – One of the highlights of Brazilian fruit exports in the first quarter was the Arab market. Brazil sold the equivalent of US$ 3.22 million, representing growth of 51% over the same period of last year. A total of 5,200 tonnes were shipped, 30% more than in the first three months of 2009.
“We are working so that the Arab market may figure among the leading destinations for Brazilian fruit exports,” said Valeska de Oliveira, executive manager of the Brazilian Fruit Institute (Ibraf).
According to her, the main fruit shipped to the Arab market during the quarter was apple. In all, 4,400 tonnes were shipped, representing growth of 60.4% over the same period of last year. “We are at the peak of the apple export season,” said the manager.
Another fruit sold to the Arabs was mango, of which 21 tonnes were shipped. In the first quarter of last year, Brazil did not export the fruit to the region. “It is a new fruit. We are seeking to expand the range of products sold,” said Valeska. According to her, Gulfood, a trade show for the food industry held in Dubai, is great for companies in the industry. “Product acceptance was great,” she added. The Ibraf has its own booth at the fair.
Brazil also exported lemon to the Arabs. The volume shipped was 797.4 tonnes, representing a 36% decline compared with the first quarter of last year. According to Valeska, the country is still going through a moment of recovery after the financial crisis, and fruit exports follow the crop calendar. In the case of lemon, for instance, the crop period is longer than with apple, enabling exports to continue in the second quarter.
The leading buyers of Brazilian fresh fruit in the region were the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Oman. As for processed fruit, i.e. juice and pulp, the top importers were Lebanon, the Emirates and Kuwait. Sales of the latter segment increased by 3%.
According to data supplied by the Ibraf, the Arab market accounts for only 2.85% of Brazilian exports of fresh fruit, and 1.16% of processed fruit. In order to diversify the export targets, 70% of which are in Europe, the Ibraf, in partnership with the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex), has scheduled several actions, which include continuing to participate in the Gulfood, in Dubai, promoting workshops for buyers and opinion makers, and bringing Arab buyers to the Fruit & Tech trade fair, due in São Paulo in September.
Overall, Brazil exported 183,000 tonnes of fresh fruit in the first quarter, representing growth of 0.6% compared with the same period of 2009. Mango had the best performance, with growth of 12%, followed by lemon, with 11%, and melon, with growth of 10%. Revenues from shipments totalled US$ 113.3 million, representing growth of 8% using the same basis of comparison.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
