Articles in this document:

 

·          Arabs Buy US$ 1 Billion from Brazil, a 70% Boost       

·          Brazilian Flag Is Big Star at Iraq Trade Show     

 

 

Arabs Buy US$ 1 Billion from Brazil, a 70% Boost       

 

Written by Geovana Pagel    

Brazzil Magazine

Monday, 17 November 2008 

 

Exports from Brazil to the Arab countries reached US$ 989 million in October, growth of 69.3% over the same period last year, when they reached US$ 584.4 million. Both cash cows of Brazilian exports to the Arab nations - meats and sugars -, which together represent 50% of Brazilian sales to the region, presented expressive growth.

 

The meat complex grew 54%, rising from US$ 168 million in October 2007, to US$ 259 million in October 2008. Sugars, in turn, leapt from US$ 105 million to US$ 231 million, in the same period, growth of 119%.

 

The list of products that grew most included non-traditional products in the trade basket to the region, like copper, oil and grain, with growth of over 300%. Copper rose from US$ 193,000 to US$ 15.8 million. Maize, which was not exported in 2007, this year generated US$ 29 million. Soy oil, which in October 2007 generated just US$ 3 million, leapt to US$ 52 million in October 2008, growth of over 1000%.

 

The main Arab destinations for Brazilian exports in the month of October were Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Algeria. The latter presented growth of 80%, from US$ 36.5 million to US$ 67 million.

 

"The Arab countries are the part of the world where there is a large volume of surplus cash. In times of crisis, which the world is now facing, they have become even more important partners," stated Antonio Sarkis Jr, president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.

 

"They are markets in which the exporter may trust. The result is that those who bet on it and had faith in it are now picking the fruit. In the month the crisis became stronger worldwide, Brazilian exports to the region grew almost 70% when compared to the same period last year. That is very significant," he said.

 

Brazilian imports from the Arab nations, in turn, grew 28% in October, when compared to the same month in 2007. The main suppliers were Saudi Arabia, Algeria and the Emirates. The latter is the highlight, which grew from US$ 4 million to almost US$ 100 million. Among the products, 76% is oil, followed by fertilizers.

 

In the accumulated result for the year, Brazilian exports to the Arab nations reached US$ 8.06 billion, growth of 38.4% over the same period last year. "This growth is much greater than the average growth of Brazilian exports to the world, which rose 28% in the period," pointed out Rodrigo Solano, the Market Development manager at the Arab Brazilian Chamber.

 

According to him, this growth was above the sales to important and traditional markets that are destinations for Brazilian exports, like Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain and the United States.

 

Among the main Arab destinations are Saudi Arabia, with US$ 2.1 billion; Egypt, with US$ 1.10 million; the United Arab Emirates, with US$ 1.09 billion; Kuwait, with US$ 551.68 million; and Algeria, with US$ 485.12 million. Among the main products are meats and giblets, sugar, ores, cast iron, iron and steel, vehicles, tractors and parts.

 

Also in the accumulated result for the year, Brazilian imports originating in Arab countries presented growth of 90.68%. They rose from US$ 4.86 billion from January to October 2007 to US$ 9.28 billion in the same period in 2008.

 

All groups of Arab countries presented significant growth in their sales to Brazil from January to October 2008, when compared to the same period in 2007: the Gulf (+ 117.74%; US$ 4.25 billion), North Africa (+ 70.92%; US$ 4.93 billion) and the Levant (+ 237.21%; US$ 96.82 million).

 

In the evaluation of Sarkis, bilateral trade between Brazil and the 22 Arab nations are greatly optimistic and the tendency is for them to remain at the same growth levels up to the end of the year. "Bilateral trade between the regions should be between US$ 21 billion and US$ 22 billion," he estimates.

 

Anba

 

brazzilmag.com

 

Brazilian Flag Is Big Star at Iraq Trade Show        

 

Written by Geovana Pagel    

Brazzil Magazine

Monday, 17 November 2008 

 

In Iraq, the most sought products at the stand of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce during the Kurdistan DBX Trade Show, which ended last Friday, November 14, were beef and poultry, sugar, auto parts for Volkswagen, Volvo and Scania vehicles, electric generators and engines, wooden doors, building material, flooring and tiles, and medical and hospital material.

 

The fair was held in the city of Suleimaniya, in the North of the country.

 

According to the secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Michel Alaby, the fondness that Arabs have for Brazil was evident at the fair. "More than 70 people asked to take pictures standing beside the Brazilian Flag," said Alaby, who participated in the fair alongside the Brazilian ambassador Bernardo de Azevedo Brito.

 

Alaby stated that, during the days that he spent in the region, he noticed a lack of trustworthy statistical information concerning the Iraqi economy. "There is a strong presence of Turkey and Iran, which are leading suppliers of foodstuffs, kitchen furnishing, household utensils, refrigerators, air conditioners, among other products, including auto parts and leather footwear," he said.

 

Currently, Kurdistan purchases Brazilian meats and sugar via Dubai, Jordan, Kuwait, Turkey, Syria and Iran. According to Alaby, in the food sector, small and medium Turkish supermarket chains prevail, with strong presence of products from Turkey itself, as well as Iran, Italy, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. "As for distribution of consumer goods, it centers around some Kurdish-owned stores, with Turkish and Iraqi capital," said the secretary.

 

According to Alaby, the import tariff for food is 5%, and for consumer goods in general, 10%. "There is strong presence of the State in imports, because it is in charge of issuing the import licenses. The Brazilian businessmen must have a local agent with deep knowledge of the licensing system," he said.

 

The fair had 270 exhibiting companies. Highlights among products showcased are generators, electric engines and equipment, air conditioners, construction material, flooring and tiles, wood and doors, plastic tubes, vehicles, computer equipment, galvanized steel pipes, food and beverage, medical and hospital equipment, electric cables and wires, geophysical equipment, bullet-proof and security glasses, electric circuit breakers, furniture and pharmaceutical products.

 

"In terms of rates, 40% were from Turkey, 10% from Iran, 10% from Germany, 5% from Japan, 5% from Italy, 7% from India, 5% from Malaysia, 3% from Spain, 3% from Pakistan, 4% from China, and the remaining 8%, from other countries," estimated Alaby.

 

In the last three days of the event, the stand received lots of visitors, among them the director general at the Al Khadi Group, Thabit Alkadhi, who was interested in sugar, beef and poultry, and foodstuffs in general. "He owns offices in Alexandria, Baghdad and Jordan, and represents several German companies in the area of machines for food manufacturing," stated Alaby.

 

Another company interested in chicken meat, furniture, flooring and tiles for households was Shaho Khalid General Trading. The owner, Shaho Khalid, presently imports chicken and construction material from China. Besides, Khalid is also interested in getting to know exporters of auto parts for autos manufactured in the United States and Japan.

 

"He has been purchasing auto parts for the Brazilian Passat automobile from Indonesia and Thailand, which are in fact copies of the Brazilian parts," explained Alaby. "We were also visited by Salah A. Omer, of company Nawroz For Trading Autoparts, who was interested in purchasing parts for Scania and Volvo vehicles. He is coming to Brazil soon," he said.

 

On Friday, the stand was visited by members of the board of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Suleimaniya, by the president, Hassan Baqi Hawrami, the vice president, Baban A. Hamasour, and by one of the members of the Board, Othman H. Fatah.

 

"We discussed imports of sugar, chicken meat and beef. Currently, they import via Turkey, Dubai, Jordan, Syria and Kuwait. They want to import directly, and will probably go to Brazil in March 2009 to meet with exporters of these products," said the secretary general.

 

The Brazilian stand also attracted the attention of businessmen interested in exporting their products. Such is the case of New Plastic Industrial Co, headquartered in Jordan, which had a stand at the fair, and displayed interest in exporting cloth and propylene bags for packing foods, cement and other raw materials.

 

Anba

 

brazzilmag.com