Brazil expanded its exports of oranges to the Arab countries from January to July this year, data from Brazil's Foreign Trade Secretariat of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, showed. It said Brazil shipped 1,900 tons of fruit to the Arab market in the period, against 1,800 in the same months in 2009 or a growth of 5.5 percent. In values, the growth was even greater, 23 percent. Revenues rose from $814,000 from January to July last year to $1.037 million this year. Saudi Arabia was the third main importer of Brazilian oranges this year and the main buyer i n the Arab world in the period covered. Brazilian oranges were also purchased by UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. “Some Arab nations, like Algeria and Egypt, have orange production,” said the executive president at the Brazilian Association of Citrus Exporters (CitrusBR), Christian Lohbauer. Last year, for example, Brazil exported 26,000 tons of oranges, resulting in revenues of $11 million. Up to July this year, sales totaled 16,900 tons, generating revenues of $7.4 million. The main buyer was Spain. But in the case of orange juice, it is different. Brazil is the main global exporter. Last year, the country exported 2.06 million tons, with revenues of $1.6 billion. The values include all kinds of orange juice, not concentrated, frozen and non-fermented. This year, up to July, sales totaled 1.04 million tons for a value of $875 million, though the Arab countries imported just $5 million of this total.
