Egypt has increased its purchases of maize by 899.4 per cent, from 90,310 tons in 2011 to 902,550 tons in 2012, while Saudi Arabia raised its corn imports from 159,770 to 402,190 tons in the same period, an increase of 151.7 per cent, according to Scot Consultoria.

BrazArtis, an import-export company based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is set to expand its soybean and corn exports to the Middle East, an endeavour that is aligned with the growing Brazilian grain harvest and exports.

Driven by soybean and corn production, Brazilian grain harvest is estimated to exceed 180 million tons from 170 million last year. The soybean harvest alone for 2012/13 is set to increase by 20 per cent and reach 81 million tons, from 66 million last year. Ranked as the second agricultural commodity export from Brazil, maize production is set to increase by 7 per cent from 66 million tons to 70 million tons.

Jan Dabrowa, business development director at BrazArtis, said: “The value of the Brazilian agribusiness has reached a peak, and it is set to reach $100 billion in 2012. Current exports of oilseeds are being fuelled by changing market dynamics that have set the stage for another successful harvest in 2013.

“In light of the decreased exports by Argentina and unfavorable weather conditions that affected the US crops, Brazil took up a leadership role as one of the main producer and exporter of soybeans and corn.”

On another hand, corn exports to Iran decreased by 26.9 per cent from 951,890 to 695,620 metric tons, but the country still stands as one of the leading importers of Brazilian corn in the region.

The exports of soybeans in 2012 are set to reach 17.5 million tons, a 20 per cent boost from 2011. In 2013, a provision for 10 per cent increase in planting and 11 per cent improvement in average productivity should result in 27.5 million acres planted and potential harvest of 81 million tons of grain.

Approximately 48 per cent of the total production, equivalent to 39 million tons of oilseed will be destined for export.

It is projected by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture that the agribusiness exports will reach a record of $100 billion in 2012. In 2010 Brazilian agricultural exports surpassed $76.4 billion worldwide, an 18 per cent increase from 2009. They attained a new record in 2011 by totaling $94.59 billion, 24 per cent higher than in 2010.

Brazil's exports span across the whole GCC region including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria and Oman. – TradeArabia News Service