Dubai: Trade between Brazil and the Arab world reached $5.2 billion in the first quarter of 2012, the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce said on Sunday.
Brazilian exports to the Arab world totaled $3.2 billion from January to March, up 3.3 per cent in the same period last year. Brazilian imports from the Arab world increased by 18 per cent to $2 billion.
The UAE purchased $611 million worth of Brazilian exports in the first quarter, placing it as the second biggest export destination for Brazil in the Arab world after Saudi Arabia with $701 million. Top products included sugar, beef and poultry, mineral ores, cereals and vegetable oils.
Political instability in the Arab world did not affect the results, the chamber claimed.
"The commercial relations between Brazil and the Arab countries proved to be vibrant in 2011 and continues so in this year of 2012," said Michel Alaby, director-general of the Arab Chamber.
