Arab countries a highlight of Brazilian agribusiness exports

The Middle East imported the equivalent of US$ 4.3 billion in Brazilian agribusiness products in the first seven months of 2011, 17.3% more than in the same period of last year. Total exports by the sector fetched US$ 51.6 billion from January to July, an increase of 22%. The products included soy bean, oil and chaff, meats, sugar and ethanol, forestry products and coffee, the (Brazil-Arab) news agency reported. The rise in the Brazilian agribusiness exports to Algeria and the United Arab Emirates was a highlight in July, according to the statement issued by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. It said shipments to Algeria have grown by 288.6% compared with July last year, generating nearly US$ 130 million in revenues. To the Emirates, exports fetched US$ 215.6 million, a 49% increase using the same basis of comparison. Algeria, the Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are among the 20 leading targets of Brazilian agribusiness products abroad. In July, the Saudis imported the equivalent of US$ 236.5 million, a 39% increase over the same month of 2010. Egyptian imports reached US$ 136.3 million, a 14.2% decline using the same basis of comparison. Sales to the Middle East as a whole reached US$ 941 million last month, 16.7% more than in July 2010. Total Brazilian agribusiness exports neared US$ 8.5 billion in the seventh month of the year, representing a 15.6% increase compared with the same period of 2010. Sugar and ethanol sales influenced the performance the most, having grown by 53.1%; soy bean, oil and chaff sales grew by 31.6%; and coffee sales increased by 12.5%. From January to July 2011, Algeria was a highlight as well. Shipments to the country generated revenues of US$ 826.5 million, a 147.6% increase compared with the same period of 2010. Revenues from exports to Saudi Arabia generated nearly US$ 1.3 billion, a 27% increase; to the Emirates, revenues reached US$ 805.7 million, an increase of 31%; and to Egypt, the figure was US$ 724 million, growth of 12.6%.