Alexandre Rocha
São Paulo – São Paulo state export to League of Arab Nations countries rose over 11% last year in comparison to 2002. This is almost double the increase registered in total Brazilian export to the region (6%). In all, Paulista (from the state of São Paulo) producers sold the equivalent to US$ 1.056 billion to the Arabs in 2003, against US$ 950 million in the previous year. This figure corresponds to over 38% of total Brazilian export to the Arab countries in 2003.
Among the 30 main São Paulo state export destinations are Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, respectively 23rd and 24th. To the former, sales totalled US$ 239.7 million, a 34.61% increase in comparison to 2002, and over half total state export to the Gulf country.
In the case of the Emirates, Paulista export totalled US$ 227.4 million, 4.31% over the value registered the year before last, and 41% of total Brazilian export to that country.
The Emirates and Egypt are, respectively, the second and third largest Brazilian trade partners among the Arab countries, losing only to Saudi Arabia.
Among the main products shipped by the state of São Paulo to the countries in the League of Arab Nations are sugar in first place, followed by cattle beef, chassis with motors, caterpillar tractors, and cars. To Egypt, the main items sold were sugar, cattle beef, cars, chassis with engines, and iron and steel pipes. In the case of the Emirates, the main products shipped were sugar, caterpillar tractors, aluminium plates and strips, cattle beef, and chassis with motors.
State import from the Arab countries in 2003 was US$ 590 million, mainly due to petroleum. There was a drop in relation to purchases in 2002, which totalled US$ 787 million. The trade balance is favourable to São Paulo, showing a surplus of US$ 467 million in 2003.
Global sales
In general, São Paulo export rose by 14.76% in 2003, in contrast to 2002. Last year, the state put on the foreign market over US$ 23 billion in products and services, against US$ 20.1 billion in 2002. The rate of growth was below the national average, 21.08%, a historic record. In 2003 Brazil exported the equivalent to US$ 73 billion, against the US$ 60.3 billion registered in 2002.
On the other hand, São Paulo state import totalled US$ 20.3 billion in 2003, 2.4% more than in 2002. The foreign purchase increase was greater than the global average, at 2.16%. An expressive export increase, however, caused a trade balance surplus for the state of São Paulo that was 10 times larger than the 2002 result, at US$ 2.76 billion.
This latter figure is relevant to the state government due to the fact that between 1994 and 2002 the state registered deficits, a sequence broken in 2002, and consolidated last year.
Among the main products the state sold around the world are aeroplanes, cars, orange juice, sugar, cattle beef, cellular telephones, auto parts, petrol, fuel, and lubricants. The main state markets are the Unite States, followed by Argentina, Mexico, Holland, Chile, Germany, China, Belgium, Italy, and Russia.
Agribusiness
There was also a significant increase in the Paulista agribusiness trade balance, the sector considered the main provider of energy for Brazilian export. Last year, the balance was US$ 4.5 billion, against the US$ 3.52 billion registered in 2002, a 28% increase, according to information provided by the state Agriculture Secretariat.
Sector export in São Paulo totalled US$ 7.67 billion, a value 17.3% greater than in 2002. Agribusiness answered to 33.23% of total state export in 2003.
According to the Agriculture Secretariat, the main highlights in foreign sales were the cattle beef sector, sugar, and orange juice.
