{"id":213893,"date":"2019-05-14T07:00:51","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T10:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/?p=213893"},"modified":"2019-05-15T14:56:30","modified_gmt":"2019-05-15T17:56:30","slug":"despite-the-fasting-ramadan-drives-demand-for-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/despite-the-fasting-ramadan-drives-demand-for-food\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite the fasting, Ramadan drives demand for food"},"content":{"rendered":"

S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 One month of fasting during daytime, followed by get-togethers and communal meals after sunset. This is the year 1440 in the Muslim calendar, and we are in\u00a0Ramadan<\/a> \u2013 a month that also impacts the calendar of trade for Arab countries. During this time of year, nightly feasts begin with the breaking of the fast (Iftar). Family and friends will get together for a banquet that usually starts off with dates.<\/p>\n

These get-togethers and the tradition of donating food to the poor are what impacts food trade and imports. \u201cLogically, in the months that precede Ramadan, sales will increase. Consumption goes up and so does stockpile-building. People will stock more to cater to the demand, because these countries get lots of tourists, as well as expatriates who come back to celebrate,\u201d said Mohamed Hussein El Zoghbi, president of the Federation of Muslim Associations in Brazil (Fambras), speaking to ANBA.<\/p>\n

And what are the impacts of Ramadan in Brazil\u2019s food industry? \u201cContracts [with Arab countries] are secured at least three months ahead of time, because besides production, you have shipping and storage. And anything you purchase takes a while to reach its destination. Purchases begin to level off during the Ramadan month. Exports, you\u2019ll see them [go up] in the few months leading into it, surely,\u201d Zoghbi.<\/p>\n

Apart from nighttime feasting, the stockpiling also stems from the fact that commercial activity, which often takes place during the day, is reduced during Ramadan. Products whose demand is strongest include some that are massively produced in Brazil, like poultry, beef and soy. Sales of processed items like soups and juices also climb during this time of year. Arab date farmers step up their output.<\/p>\n

From Brazil to Arab countries <\/strong><\/p>\n

Ramadan began on May 5 this year, and food production in Brazil began picking up in March, to 1.05 million tons, from 963,000 tons in February. The trend continues up until April, which precedes the celebration.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest markets for poultry from Brazil, the Arab countries as a whole buy more during this period. Year-on-year in April, poultry sales to Arab countries<\/a> climbed 34.9% to 338,900 tons, according to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA).<\/p>\n

Beef and soy exports also went up. According to figures from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s Market Intelligence Department, beef exports climbed 107% year-on-year in April to 24,450 tons. Soy sales were up 58.34% to 116,000 tons.<\/p>\n

Also year-on-year in April, total food exports were up 46.13% to 926,250 tons. Although this can change from year to year, Zoghbi explains that the natural upward trend always holds true. \u201cThe market is consistent. It\u2019s a very important market for Brazil. It\u2019s always seasonal, and around this time of year, sales will go up two months ahead of time. During the actual month of Ramadan, exports will go down a bit because the stockpiles are in place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

From Arabs to Muslims<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the Arab companies, Ramadan is a period that guides the business calendar. The Tunisian company Jardins de Carthage, for example, points a growth two months before Ramadan. \u201cWe sell more, specially in Europe, which has larger Muslim communities coming from countries such as Algeria and Tunisia itself,\u201d revealed Foued Gueddich, manager general of the group that sells jams and pepper and tomato sauces.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest markets for poultry from Brazil, the Arab countries as a whole buy more during this period. Year-on-year in April, poultry sales to Arab countries climbed 34.9% to 338,900 tons, according to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA).<\/p>\n

(Story continues after photo gallery)<\/em><\/p>\n