The greater exports to the Arab market were above the growth of Brazilian foreign sales, which expanded 27% in the period. Brazil had revenues of US$ 12.1 billion on the foreign market in February. That is, the Arabs answered to 5% of all Brazil exported to the world last month. In the accumulated result for January and February, sales to the Arabs have grown 33.25%, reaching US$ 1.37 billion.
As has been taking place in recent months, the products that boosted Brazilian sales between January and February were meats and sugar. Exports of meats to the region grew 44.3%, to US$ 402 million, and those of sugar, 32%, to US$ 395 million.
Ores also contributed significantly to the growth of sales. Exports of the commodity grew 215%, to US$ 218 million. Grain was the fourth main product in the basket, but there was a 24% reduction in sales, to US$ 47.2 million.
Among the countries, Saudi Arabia was the main buyer, in revenues, with US$ 348 million and expansion of 46%. In second place came the United Arab Emirates, whose purchases totaled US$ 205 million, with growth of 59%. Egypt came in the third place in the Arab world, with US$ 154 million, but there was a drop of around 3%. Algeria was the fourth main buyer, with US$ 93.3 million and expansion of 10%.
The import of Arab products by Brazil also grew above average in February. In total, Brazil spent US$ 464 million on purchases in the region, expansion of 153% over the same period in 2009. Brazilian imports from the world as a whole grew 50.8% in the period.
Also in the accumulated result for January and February, Brazilian imports from the Arab market expanded 87%, to US$ 944 million. The vast majority was oil and oil products.