Brazilian building material exports to GCC reach USD 25.61 million in First Three quarters of 2014

UAE, December 15, 2014 - The Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) has revealed that the export of building materials from Brazil to the GCC region for the third quarter of 2014 has reached USD 25.61 million. In addition, the total level of machinery exports from Brazil to the GCC region from January to end of September of this year has reached USD 116.69 million. The posted figures reflect the strong and thriving bilateral trade ties between Brazil and the whole GCC region.

In terms of its building materials, Brazil’s global exports hit USD 4.94 billion. During the same period, the UAE accounted for 57.4 percent of the total transactions to reach USD 14.71 million, followed by Saudi Arabia (USD 8.13 million) and Qatar (USD 1.27 million). Kuwait (USD 660,000), Oman (USD 630,000), and Bahrain (USD 170,000), meanwhile, witnessed over 60 per cent year-on-year growth  and are expected to see higher trade numbers.

Dr. Michel Alaby, Secretary General and CEO, ABCC, said, “The thriving bilateral trade in the machinery and building material sector between GCC countries and Brazil strongly reflects their long-standing and strategic trade partnership. This is especially crucial amid the flourishing of machinery and building material sector in the region. We look forward to robust more the trade relations between them. Rest assured that the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce will continue to do its part in terms of looking for more avenues to further expand and enhance their bilateral trade in the coming years.”

From January to end of September of this year, the GCC imported mostly plywood and other laminated wood products from Brazil, with the transaction value hitting USD 3.46 million. These were followed by granite (USD 3.3 million) and appliances for pipes and boiler shells (USD 2.85 million). Brazilian export value for kitchen glassware, articles of iron and steel, and parts of valves and pipes witnessed an exponential jump in 2014, increasing over 334 per cent, 1,268 per cent, and 4, 312 per cent, respectively.

In the UAE, in particular, the country has imported USD 2.79 million worth of granite; USD 2.99 million in pressure valves; USD 2.79 million in transmission trees; USD 2.58 million in bulldozers and angle dozers; and USD 2.01 million in air pumps. At the GCC level, total machinery exports reached USD 116.69 million from January to October 2014. The UAE accounted for USD 67.3 million, representing 57.6 per cent of the total value. It was followed by Oman (USD 2.61 million), Qatar (USD 1.49 million), Kuwait (USD 1.24 million), and Bahrain (USD 190,000).

The ABCC has been established to consolidate and expand partnerships, generate opportunities and bring Arab and Brazilian companies together. It has been in operation for 62 years--playing an active role in boosting economic, cultural and tourism activities and facilitating the flow of information between Arabs and Brazilians.