São Paulo – Unilog – Universal Logistics Services, a logistics company based in São Paulo, wants to expand its business in the Arab market. The company has shipped cargo to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon. In addition to shipping goods, Unilog operates as a trading company, seeking suppliers for the enterprises it serves.
Business manager Kelly Rodrigues explains that Unilog has shipped coffee, dental material, soft drinks, floor tiles and even lighting fixtures to the Arab countries. Currently, the company is negotiating the shipping of 40 containers of beef to Alexandria, Egypt. Another niche for exporting to the region is food for race horses.
“We are looking for alfalfa suppliers. Countries such as the Emirates and Qatar are breeders of race horses for competition and demand large amounts of alfalfa with high protein content. We hope to close the deal early in the second half,” she says.
The company has representatives in 21 of the 22 existing Arab countries, the exception being the Comoro Islands. “Our focus is on the Arab market,” says Rodrigues of the company’s expansion plans. We are beginning to realize where the compass is pointing to. We follow the news and we’re aware that several Brazilian enterprises are operating there. We noticed this trend through an assessment of the market,” she says.
Presently, the leading market for Unilog is the United States. The company also operates in countries such as China, India, Argentina and Chile, and in the European continent. The main Arab markets are Lebanon and Egypt, but Rodrigues is betting in other countries in the region as well.
“We believe the strongest ones are the Emirates and Qatar, which may export industrial machinery to Brazil,” she says. In terms of Brazilian exports to the region, the manager mostly envisions opportunities in foodstuffs.
“The Brazilian product is more reputable and its certification is more trustworthy than that of the Chinese product. The Arabs require their food to be halal and I believe this is an advantage to Brazil,” she says.
The company is also investing in going to international shows. It has already been to an event in Portugal, and now it is interested in attending Project Lebanon, due from June 5th to 8th in Beirut. “We have invited (exporting) companies to participate in the fair, and we hope that will translate into business being made,” she claims.
Established in 2000, Unilog has a branch in Santos, a coastal city in the state of São Paulo. With 18 direct employees, the company posts annual revenues of 4 million reals (US$ 2 million).
Contact
Unilog
Tel.: +55 13 3216 1510
Email: gerencia@universal-log.com.br
Site: www.universal-log.com.br
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
