Exports from Brazil to the Arab market grew 45% in February over the same month last year. According to figures supplied by the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, compiled by the Market Development Department at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Brazil had revenues of US$ 687 million with sales to the Arab world in February this year. In the same month last year, exports had totaled US$ 484 million.
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.
