January 29, 2009

Brazil's agribusiness exports to Arabian countries last year grew 30 percent from 2007 to US$6 billion in revenues, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The increase in sales was greater than the 23 percent export growth.

Leading destinations for Brazilian farm products in the region last year were Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Algeria and Morocco. Key export items include chicken, beef, corn and wheat.

Saudi Arabia increased imports by 45 percent, with meat sales growing 40 percent mainly due to price increases. Corn exports to Saudi Arabia also grew 333 percent.

The Middle Eastern region is becoming increasingly important as a destination for Brazilian corn, said Eduardo Sampaio Marques, the director of the Department for International Promotion of Agribusiness at the ministry.

Brazilian chicken sales to Egypt skyrocketed 590 percent, a sharp turnaround from an import ban that existed until mid-2006 in order to protect local production. Egypt opened its market to Brazil's chickens after bird flu emerged in its chicken farms and threatened poultry supplies.

Brazil's exports of beef and grain to Algeria grew 56 percent and 200 percent, respectively, but exports to the UAE declined by 5.72 percent. Shipments to Morocco, a key fertiliser supplier to Brazil, grew 40 percent.

Saudi Arabia's total import value was US$1.43 billion, and markets that grew above the average include Kuwait, Syria, Tunisia, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Libya and Djibouti.