{"id":415971,"date":"2026-08-25T17:43:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T20:43:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/?p=415971"},"modified":"2026-08-26T14:27:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T17:27:59","slug":"trust-keeps-brazil-arab-food-corridor-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/trust-keeps-brazil-arab-food-corridor-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Trust keeps Brazil-Arab food corridor open"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 During the second panel of the Brazil & Arab Countries Economic Forum<\/a>, held by the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> (ABCC<\/a>) on Tuesday (25) in S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazilian and Arab business leaders, experts and officials discussed maintaining trade despite volatile fertilizer prices and other challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Estev\u00e3o
Estev\u00e3o Carvalho, of ABPA: Even with Strait of Hormuz closure, shipments reached the Middle East<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Investment security in Brazil was one of the key topics. \u201cResilience\u201d and \u201cconfidence\u201d were among the terms most frequently mentioned by panelists. Frank Nadimi, director of agribusiness and biofuels for Latin America at S&P Global Energy Consulting, opened the session and said maritime blockades in the Black Sea and surrounding region, as well as other conflicts around the world, pose major challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to him, oil is currently selling for around USD 90 a barrel, while diesel can fetch more than USD 100 a barrel \u2014 far above the usual price of approximately USD 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to climate-related effects, the Panama Canal has lost capacity, while rivers are drying up in Europe. In addition, the United States has been boosting its gross domestic product through the AI investment bubble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe market is still absorbing these impacts, and we will start to see the results in 2027,\u201d Nadimi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nadimi highlighted the expansion of ethanol production in Brazil and the growing number of ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe used to have the largest exporter here in S\u00e3o Paulo [the Port of Santos], but now we have several ports in the Northeast [region].\u201d Nadimi praised Brazil\u2019s ability to keep its economy stable despite changing political scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resilience in the face of crises<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rumaitha Al Busaidi, Head of Business Development and Local Value Addition at Oman\u2019s Hydrom, moderated the panel. She said there is resilience among players involved in Brazil-Arab trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Obaidly, chairman of the Technology and Innovation and Food Security and Environment committees at Qatar Chamber, said Qataris have developed a food security policy based on three pillars: supply-chain networking, local production and strategic stockpiling.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Obaidly:
Obaidly: Qatar diversifies its food suppliers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cThere is no food security without partnerships,\u201d he said, explaining that Qatar has diversified its food supply base to anticipate potential crises. \u201cWe do not depend on a single supplier. At most, 30% comes from each one,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to him, it is necessary to build a resilient and sustainable ecosystem capable of withstanding even taxes and tariffs imposed by other countries. \u201cBrazil has already realized what is happening. There is an economic war underway,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obaidly also suggested that ships carrying food from Brazil to Arab countries could return with fertilizers imported by Brazil, thus reducing costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estev\u00e3o Carvalho, executive manager at the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), highlighted that Brazil exports chicken to more than 150 countries, with 25% going to the Middle East. Even with the Strait of Hormuz closed, ports elsewhere absorbed the shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From January to July this year, exports fell by just 5% compared with the same period last year, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrazilian chicken is still flowing to the region, and we are confident that our partners have adequate supplies,\u201d Carvalho said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

M.J. Khan, executive director of the Netherlands-based World Agriculture Forum (WAF), highlighted the strong complementarity between Brazil and Arab countries, which has allowed \u201cfood corridors\u201d to remain uninterrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo one is self-sufficient, either in food production or exports,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Halal certification as a bridge of trust<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ali Zoghbi, vice president of FAMBRAS Halal Certifier and president of the International Halal Academy, said that despite each country having specific requirements, Brazil has \u201cbuilt trust,\u201d referring to the etymology of the Arabic word for trust, which is linked to the sacred.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Zoghbi:
Zoghbi: Brazil has built trust as a food supplier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

According to Zoghbi, a range of stakeholders help maintain Brazil\u2019s position as the leading halal exporter. He also stressed the importance of empathy in relations between Brazil and Arab countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGetting to know one another is still a long journey. We are a minority in Brazil, but we are part of Brazilian society,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rafael Requi\u00e3o, Deputy Secretary of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock\u2019s Secretariat for Trade and International Relations, said Brazil sees its relationship with Arab countries as a two-way street. Despite a decline in fertilizer imports, he said there is still significant potential for trade in these inputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hashim S. Hussein, Head of UNIDO-ITPO\u2019s Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain, stressed that Brazil needs to add value to its raw materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBrazil has the potential for technology, smart farming, and drones. In the Arab world, we have the capital and highly dynamic entrepreneurs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that 65% of the population in Arab countries is under 30, similar to Brazil\u2019s demographic profile, and that creating more jobs is a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere needs to be peace and security among countries. Business leaders will play a very important role. We will have sustainable programs involving Brazil and Arab and Islamic countries,\u201d Hussein said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The forum, organized by the ABCC, is sponsored by Fambras Halal, International Halal Academy, Vale, DP World, Cdial Halal, First Abu Dhabi Bank, MBRF Global Foods Company, Qatar Airways and MZAH Group Investment. Institutional supporters include the Arab League, the Union of Arab Chambers and the Federation of Industries of the State of Bahia. Cacilda Arag\u00e3o Tours is a partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read also<\/em>:
Brazil, Arab nations face geopolitical challenges<\/a>
Uncertain landscape calls for Brazil-Arab ties<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Translated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marcelo Brammer\/Arab-Brazilian Chamber<\/div>
Marcelo Brammer\/Arab-Brazilian Chamber<\/div>
Marcelo Brammer\/Arab-Brazilian Chamber<\/div>
Marcelo Brammer\/Arab-Brazilian Chamber<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Despite volatile agricultural input prices, Brazil is seen as a reliable food supplier.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2351,"featured_media":415954,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91],"tags":[48478,9534,29019,3254,57840,11961],"class_list":{"0":"post-415971","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-economy","8":"tag-arab-brazilian-chamber-of-commerce-2","9":"tag-brazil-en","10":"tag-fertilizantes-en","11":"tag-fertilizers","12":"tag-oi","13":"tag-petroleo-ar"},"wps_subtitle":"Despite volatile agricultural input prices, Brazil is seen as a reliable food supplier.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2351"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=415971"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":416183,"href":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415971\/revisions\/416183"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/415954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=415971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=415971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=415971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}