October 29, 2007

 

Arab states a fast-rising market for Brazil's meat

 

 

Exports of Brazilian agricultural products to countries in the League of Arab States grew by 17 percent in September this year compared to the same period last year.

 

For the year to date, exports to the same destination have grown 16 percent.

 

Main items were meats and products in the sugar and alcohol complex.

 

A total of US$ 417 million in agricultural products were shipped in September while US$ 3.45 billion were shipped from January to September.

 

Meats topped the list of products so far this year, according to the president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Antonio Sarkis Jr.

 

In September, Brazilian meat shipment to the EU amounted to US$157.7 million. For the first nine months of the year, meat exports grew 31 percent to US$1.5 billion.

 

Brazil's chicken exports to the region remains strong while beef exports are rising sharply.

 

Other items high on the list of Brazilian exports to the region was sugar and alcohol.

 

Saudi Arabia was the leading buyer of Brazilian meat from January to September, with imports worth US$ 437 million. The second main buyer was Egypt, at US$ 300 million.

 

Saudi Arabia was the leading importer of Brazilian agribusiness products as a whole from January to September, at US$ 715 million.

 

THe United Arab Emirates came in second, at US$ 636 million, and Egypt came in third, at US$ 541 million.

 

According to Sarkis, agribusiness exports to the Arabs should grow b 18 percent  in 2007.