Brazil exports over 30% poultry meat to Middle East markets

Brazil shipped around 1.4 million tonnes of chicken in 2009 to the Middle East, the country's leading market for poultry, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait among the top buyers.

With a growth of 22.7% and revenues of US$1.9 billion from 2008, exports are expected to grow further in 2010, with January data revealing a 37% sales increase to US$ 141.8 million over the corresponding period in 2009.

Brazil's major poultry exporters will outline their plans to expand further into the Middle East region and showcase their top products during Brasil Trade Middle East 2010, a multi-industry exposition taking place on May 9-11, 2010 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City. They will particularly focus on the Gulf area, the largest importer of Halal-prepared products in the world, with purchases close to one million tonnes of Halal poultry meat each year.

Many countries in the Middle East import their food needs; the Gulf in particular sources more than 90% of food from abroad. The Arab region is home to more than 345 million people and yet its farming and agricultural activities are very limited. It will thus continue to reach out to key food exporters such as Brazil, which is a very popular food partner among Middle Eastern countries as its products are certified by Cibal Halal, the Brazilian Islamic Centre for Halal Food Stuff Association.