The Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) revealed on Sunday that Brazil imported $7.6bn worth of goods from the Arab region in 2018, compared to $6.4bn in 2017, recording a year-over-year (y-o-y) growth of 18%. It brought the total Brazilian imports from the Arab states to 17.6bn kg in terms of volume.

Brazil’s imports from the UAE climbed to $561m from last year’s $186m, recording a staggering 200% y-o-y growth. Saudi exports to Brazil reached $2.3 bn, up 23% from 2017.

Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain exported goods worth $269m, $212m, $124m, and $116m respectively to Brazil in 2018. In terms of volume, these four Arab countries’ exports to Brazil recorded 1.14bn kg, 622m kg, 391m kg, and 280m kg respectively.

The most exported goods to Brazil from the Arab countries included mineral fuels; mineral oils; bituminous substances; mineral waxes; fertilisers; plastic; salt; sulphur; earth and stone; plastering materials; lime and cement; organic chemicals; fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and other aquatic invertebrates; preparations of vegetables; fruits; nuts or other parts of plants; glass, and glassware.

“The figures for 2018 once again reflect the success of the ABCC’s efforts to bolster the existing trade ties between Brazil and the Arab countries. Thanks to the shared commitment by both parties, products from Arab countries continue to find newer markets in Brazil, and we expect these figures to rise further in 2019,” mentioned the President of the ABCC, Rubens Hannun.