Brazilian agribusiness exports to the Arab countries yielded US$ 457.4 million in July, a 35.5% increase in comparison to the US$ 337.5 million of the same month in 2005. In relation to June this year, when shipments added up to US$ 366 million, the increase was of nearly 25%.
The information comes from the Ministry of Agriculture. During the month, total exports from Brazil to the Arab countries yielded US$ 636.2 million, in other words, the agricultural and livestock products accounted for 71.9%.
Once again, sales to the region increased more than the total of national exports. In July, Brazilian agribusiness shipped the equivalent to US$ 5.2 billion, a 28.6% increase in relation to the same period last year.
"And the comparison is considering a month in which the result was already excellent," said the president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Antonio Sarkis Jr. In June last year, agribusiness exports to the Arabs increased 43% in relation to the same month in 2004.
The main destinations for livestock and agricultural goods in the region were Egypt (US$ 109.8 million, an increase of 36.9%, the United Arab Emirates (US$ 99 million, plus 134.8%), Saudi Arabia (US$ 75.6 million, plus 18.8%), Algeria (US$ 38.2 million, plus 5.3%) and Yemen (US$ 25.6 million, plus 54.8%).
The markets that grew the most in the comparison between July last year and July this year were Sudan (US$ 3.2 million, plus 216%), the United Arab Emirates, Iraq (US$ 15.5 million, plus 125%), the Comoros (US$ 176,000, plus 123%) and Mauritania (US$ 6.3 million, plus 116%). The highlight is to the purchases made by the United Arab Emirates, which already was a traditional buyer from Brazil amongst the Arab countries.
"As well as the preparation for the Ramadan, which happens at this time, Brazilian products are gaining more space in the market," added Sarkis. It is customary amongst the traders in the region to replenish their stocks in the months that precede the Ramadan, which this year starts on the end of September.
Even though during this period the Arab Muslims fast during the day, they eat a lot at night. Moreover, the holy month is followed by feasts. The main goods shipped in July were sugar, beef, poultry and soy.
Accumulated values
From January to July, agribusiness sales to the region yielded US$ 2.1 billion, an increase of 15.5% in relation to the US$ 1.8 billion in the same period as last year. The main products sold were also sugar, beef, poultry and soy. The agricultural and livestock goods represent 63% of the total of US$ 3.3 billion exported by Brazil to the Arabs in the year.
The main markets in the first seven months of the year were Saudi Arabia (US$ 446.7 million, with an increase in 10.5%), Egypt (US$ 416 million, plus 35.3%), United Arab Emirates (US$ 330 million, plus 44.8%), Algeria (US$ 195.4 million, minus 0.13%) and Morocco (US$ 153 million, minus 6.7%).
The destinations that increased the most were Iraq (US$ 45.8 million, plus 436%), Sudan (US$ 9.8 million, plus 284%), Djibouti (US$ 5.2 million, plus 271%), Somalia (US$ 45.3 million, plus 168%) and the Comoros (US$ 1.3 million, plus 105%).
Anba