São Paulo – Brazilian trading company DXB, which participates in the Saudi Build, in the building sector, in Saudi Arabia, should ship 10 containers of quartzite stone to a building company in Saudi Arabia. The deal, closed at the event, is evaluated at around US$ 1 million. This should be the first export by the company to the Arab country. "It is a consultancy company that develops projects here," stated the Business Development manager at the trading company, Roberto Leandro.
The quartzite is in several tones, like pink, white and beige. The order includes mosaics of all colours and 11 different cuts. At the DXB stand, the quartzite samples were sold to a businessman from Lebanon, who also liked the quality of the Brazilian stone. "Our price is a little higher than that of the Chinese, but the quality is much better and that is what the Arabs want," said Leandro.
According to him, many buyers inquired whether the company had shops or a showroom in the Arab country where they could place their orders. "Now we want to open a showroom here (in Riyadh) this year. The receptiveness is being very good. It is worth it," added the director. Apart from stone, the trading showed steel and wood notebook tables at the fair. "It was a novelty that was a great success," said Leandro, who sold two containers, with about 700 tables, to a distributor in Saudi Arabia.
Another product that DXB took and that was successful was electrotape, which replaces electric wire. According to Leandro, he took 100 meters of the tape to show and the product is already running out.
DXB is one of the Brazilian companies participating in the fair. The national pavilion was organized by Conceito Brazil with the support of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the embassy of Brazil to Riyadh.
Potential market
The Non-Ferrous Metal Artefact Union of the State of São Paulo (Siamfesp) also has a booth at the fair. The president at the organisation, Denis Perez Martins, visited several Saudi distributors and retailers yesterday and believes there is an enormous potential to be explored by Brazilian companies. "We felt enormous potential for our products. We have quality and price and I see no difficulty to compete on the market," said the president.
According to him, the Arabs like robust and well-worked items generally import from Europe and Asia. "Saudi Arabia is also a great centre for distribution to other Arab countries. It is a promising market for Brazil," said Martins, who believes that both countries still need to learn more about each other.
To the secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Michel Alaby, the fair is being very good. The organisation also received contracts by importers interested in machinery and tools for the building industry. Saudi Build ends today, in Riyadh.
*Translated by Mark Ament
