Omar Nasser, from Fiep*
Curitiba – Once again, exports from the southern Brazilian state of Paraná to the Arab market have risen more than total state exports to other regions. Between January and September 2007, sales from the southern Brazilian state of Paraná to the Middle East and North Africa rose 25%, from US$ 365.3 million to US$ 455.5 million. In the same period, total exports posted growth of 22%, reaching US$ 9 billion.
The growth was also expressive in imports. While Paraná state purchases abroad grew 48%, reaching US$ 6.2 billion, imports from the Arab market grew 315%, rising from US$ 32.4 million to US$ 134.7 million. The figures are based on data disclosed on Thursday (11) by the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.
When comparing the first nine months of this year to the same nine months last year, bilateral trade between the state of Paraná and the Arab market (exports plus imports) grew 48%, from US$ 391.7 million to US$ 590.2 million.
"There is no doubt that the behaviour of the dollar, below 1.85 real (price of one dollar as against the Brazilian currency), is boosting imports," according to Ardisson Akel, coordinator at the Foreign Trade Theme Council at the Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná (Fiep).
However, to him, this does not explain the increase in trade between Paraná and the Arab market. "Contact between businessmen has been more frequent and this is a fundamental factor, benefiting importers and exporters on both sides of the Atlantic," he points out.
*Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná (Fiep). Translated by Mark Ament
