Exchange rate favors business with Arabic Countries
Gazeta Mercantil - 01/16/2009
The appreciation of the Dollar in the last months shall leverage the volume of business with agricultural products between Brazil and the Arabic countries in 2009. Even after the worsening of the crisis, in the second half of 2008, exports to Arabic countries continued growing and closed the year above the expectations. The increase in the third quarter can also be attributed to the directing of the products that stopped being consumed in the European and American markets, which were the most damaged markets by the crisis. In this period, for instance, the income from coffee and meats increased 55.8% and 8%, respectively, compared to 2007, according to information of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB). "The problem of liquidity that affects the whole world is not a problem for the Arabic countries. The fall in the price of oil was in part compensated by the appreciation of the Dollar and that can generate many opportunities for the Brazilian entrepreneurs in 2009", evaluates Antônio Sarkis Júnior, President of the CCAB. He believes there are still many markets to be explored. "Whenever we made projections of increase of the exports they were exceeded", he emphasized. He said the commercial flow between Brazil and the countries of the block has always been even. According to data of the CCAB, the sales of unroasted coffee to the Arabic Countries alone amounted to US$ 146.7 million, an increase of 16% compared to the previous year. "If we work the commercial relationship aiming at the opening of new markets, Brazil can be one of the first countries to get over the crisis", evaluates Sarkis.