São Paulo – In two days of activities as part of a trade mission to Algeria, Brazilian trading company Braseco met with five potential importers of its products. The visit should result in around USD 200,000 in sales. “I went to visit a client with which I already do business with and I offered adorned and crude fiber boards. He placed an order, since he didn’t buy specifically this type of product,” said Damaris Ávila da Costa, the company’s director.
Braseco is taking part, until October 31, of a trade mission organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. The trading company operates in the field of construction material, such as glasses, solid wood doors and windows, sawn timber for construction, plywood and hardwood plywood, among others. “The mission’s first day was a chat with clients. Yesterday, we met three Algerian companies that were looking for doors and have a demand for material from Brazil. It was a meeting for me to present the companies we represent,” said Costa.
“In my experience, it takes patience. I usually work with inputs. In the case of doors, the government here is imposing restrictions. Many products have tariff barriers, especially finished products. Sanitary ware, for instance, I won’t be able to sell here. It makes it hard for us to compete. For industry clients, it’s fine. Distributors are facing more problems,” said the business woman.
According to Costa, her main competitors in the field are the European countries. They (Algerians) buy large volumes, but they have options in Europe, with low freight rates, low prices and good delivery time. I sell MDF, but the market is crowded. Europe, Thailand and Spain are sending the product to North Africa,” explains the director, who’s been in the market for 38 years.
“Regarding the mission, the advantage was visiting the market and getting to know five more clients. It means five more possible importers,” she concluded. For the last day of activities, she’s planning to visit more clients in the city of Constantine. According to her, a wood sector city.
Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
