Latest figures continue to reflect stronger ties between Brazil and Arab region

December 24, 2019- Brazilian exports to Arab countries reached USD 11.27 billion from January to November 2019, up 8.01 per cent compared to the same period last year, latest figures released by Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) showed. Similarly, the country’s imports from the Arab region experienced significant growth that amounted to USD 6.401 billion.

The bulk of the Brazilian goods were shipped to Saudi Arabia at USD 1.817 billion (2,985.25 thousand tons); Egypt, USD 1.733 billion (6,257.36 thousand tons); and the UAE, USD 2.069 billion (2,468.37 thousand tons). The South American country’s imports from Saudi Arabia amounted to USD 2.022 billion (4,259.31 thousand tons); Egypt, USD 286.46 million (1,281.08 thousand tons); and the UAE, USD 523.81 million (909.24 thousand tons).

The export products mainly comprised meat from bovine animals and poultry; footwear; cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose; iron ores; maize (corn); tubes, pipes and hollow profiles; gold; and soya-bean oil and its fractions. Brazil’s footwear exports to the United Arab Emirates climbed by 68% year-to-date through November, the Brazilian Footwear Industry Association (Abicalçados) reported. Revenue from the sales to the UAE also increased. Year-to-date through November, Brazil saw a turnover of USD 11.3 million from the sales to the Middle Eastern country from USD 9.2 million a year ago. It was a 23% growth.

Brazil’s chicken meat exports, meantime, reached USD 2.171 billion from January to November 2019. The top three destinations of the product were Saudi Arabia at USD 727.46 million (429.68 thousand tons); the UAE, USD 520.79 million (316.5 thousand tons); and Oman, USD 117.04 million (76.06 thousand tons). Meantime, the value of Brazil’s bovine meat exports amounted to USD 1.109 billion. The top three countries were Egypt, USD 462.14 million (157.62 thousand tons); the UAE, USD 246.2 million (67.95 thousand tons); and Saudi Arabia at USD 128.21 million (38.12 thousand tons).

On the other hand, the top import products included mineral fuels; mineral oils; bituminous substances and mineral waxes; fertilizers; plastic; salt and sulphur; earth and stone; plastering materials,; lime and cement; organic chemicals; fish, crustaceans and mollusks, other aquatic invertebrates, preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants; and glass and glassware.

Rubens Hannun, President, ABCC, said: “The latest trade figures continued to reflect the growing trade relations between Brazil and the Arab region.  We are confident that their ties will remain robust by the end of the year up until 2020 amid expanding trade opportunities.  At ABCC, we will continue to facilitate trade prospects and partnership formation between them and help improve their trade relations. Thanks to the shared commitment by both parties, products from Arab countries continue to find newer markets in Brazil and we expect these figures to rise further next year.”

For over 67 years now, the ABCC has been working continuously to connect Brazilian and Arab people together in the move to promote economic, social, and cultural development. The ABCC plays a pivotal role in developing the relationship between the two parties over the years. Additionally, ABCC helps facilitate growth and diversification of Arab-Brazilian trade by building relationships with public and private players and working towards making the Arab world as Brazil’s third-largest business and investment partner.