06/03/2015 12h36

Arab importers to deal in honey in Brazil

Entrepreneurs from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Morocco will engage in matchmaking and visit Brazilian producers next week in São Paulo. The industry wants a bigger share of the Arab market.

Brazil-Arab News Agency

Three Arab importers are expected for a business matchmaking event with Brazilian honey manufacturers next week in São Paulo. Entrepreneurs from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Morocco should sit down with local producers and three importers from China, one from the United States and one from Canada, at the stand of the Brazilian Honey Exporters Association (Abemel) in Bio Brazil Fair/Biofach América Latina, an expo running from June 10th to 13th at Ibirapuera Park’s Bienal building.

Arabs were chosen for the matchmaking as part of Abemel’s strategy to expand in the region, says Abemel executive manager Flávia Salustiano. Currently, most honey exports from Brazil go to the United States, but the organization’s goal is to diversify destinations. Since 2009, Abemel and the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) carry out a Brazilian honey foreign promotion project named Brazil Let’s Bee.

Salustiano explains that the Arabs will participate as a result of a mission from the Brazilian industry to the UAE last year. He also notes that some honey companies went to Gulfood, an exhibition that took place in the UAE in February this year, and that the Apex-Brasil office in Dubai helped invite the importers.

At the Bio Brazil Fair, the matchmaking will take place in June 10th and 11th and on the other two days, 12th and 13th, the foreigners will pay technical visits to Brazilian honey companies. The business matchmaking will involve enterprises from across Brazil, but the visits will be paid to factories in the state of São Paulo due to their proximity. The goal, Salustiano says, is for the importers to witness Brazil’s manufacturing facilities and knowledge.

In 2014, the Brazilian honey industry grossed US$ 98.5 million from exports, in its best year on the international front. Revenues reached US$ 54 million in 2013 and US$ 52 million in 2012. Abemel’s executive manager highlights the Brazil Let’s Bee project. “It had positive effects on the industry, which are reflected by export numbers,” she says. At this time, roughly 80% of exports are from companies involved with the project.

By the end of April this year, export revenues reached US$ 31 million, 72% of which went to the United States, according to Abemel data. Of the Arab countries, only Jordan and Oman imported in the first four months this year. Salustiano remarks, however, that Argentina – a competitor of Brazil’s as a honey producing country – does export to the Arab countries. "We can also do it,” she says.

Abemel has a stand at the Bio Brazil Fair/Biofach América Latina because it has a strategy of exhibiting at natural and organic products fairs. The organization believes this type of event suits it better than food-only expos, considering its honey’s health-oriented profile.