Total exports of agricultural and livestock products from Brazil to the Middle East amounted to $724.3 million in March 2016, up 46.3 per cent in comparison to figures from the same period last year, according to statistics released by the Brazil Ministry of Agriculture and Supply (MAPA).

The Middle East ranks third in the world in Brazilian agricultural and livestock imports after Asia and the European Union, it added.

Saudi Arabia has emerged as the largest importers from Brazil, registering an increase of 5.9 per cent, followed by Egypt at 16.8 per cent, and the UAE at 69.4 per cent, it said.

Soy complex was the most exported item among the agricultural and livestock categories for the period, recording a total sale of $3.4 billion and an increase of 23.8 per cent. Followed by meats with earnings of $1.24 billion and growth of 5.4 per cent, and the sugar-alcohol complex with total sales of $737.2 million and an increase of 10.8 per cent, said the statement.

Brazil has exported $20 million worth of agribusiness products year-to-date up to March, registering an increase of 8.7 per cent over the same period in 2015, it added.

According to MAPA, the soy complex followed by meats and forest products were the most exported items, with the livestock and agriculture category accounting for 49.4 per cent of all of Brazil’s exports during the period.

Dr Michel Alaby, secretary general and CEO, Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, said: “Brazil’s strengthening bilateral relations with the Arab World region reflects the growing popularity and demand of high-quality Brazilian products among regional consumers.”

“At the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, we have always strived to further consolidate Brazil’s business relations with the Arab World by offering entrepreneurs and business from both sides a platform to connect with each other to discuss profitable ventures. We will continue to support Brazil in its objective of increasing the volume of export in food stuff, especially agricultural and livestock products, to the Arab World,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service