Brazil Trade Mission to Africa 2014

The trade mission will be hosted by Apex-Brasil and the Brazilian Council for Import and Export Houses (CECIEx), and will present the products and capabilities of some of Brazil's leading exporters of Food & Beverage products, Construction Materials and Cosmetics & Hygiene products.

According to Mauricio Borges, president of Apex-Brasil, "South Africa is a significant trading partner for Brazil, and we look forward to growing relationships and building new ones between our featured exporters and their South African and African counterparts".

In 2012, Brazil's food and beverage exports to South Africa exceeded US$122 million in value, an impressive growth over more than US$22million of 2007. Exports of construction materials to South Africa came in at slightly more than US$4,2 million, a clear indicator of the strong growth potential in this dynamic sector.

By contrast, South Africa exported construction materials to the value of over US$53.4 million to Brazil in 2012 and over US$538 million worth of food and beverage products.

"This year's trade mission will be focused on introducing local buyers to some of our leading exporters of food and beverage products, construction materials and cosmetics & hygiene products via pre-arranged B2B meetings and an opportunity to see the products on offer," added Borges.

Brazil's Food & Beverage export sector is a strategic one for this country that is rich in natural resources and among the most biodiverse in the world. The sector's focus on sustainability and ethical farming, combined with ecologically viable manufacturing practices, are key contributors to its success.

Among the products that are expected to be represented by Brazilian exporters at the trade mission, are beef; poultry; pork; fruits and juices; wine; organics; honey; and candy. High product quality is a given and the driving force behind continued growth in this export sector. In 2013, Brazil exported 1.5 tons of beef, representing US-$ 6.6-million - a new national record. In 2011, the country ranked among the three biggest poultry producers worldwide, with total production of 13.058 million tons.

Worldwide, Brazil is: the fourth biggest producer and exporter of pork; one of the main producers of fruits, producing 43 million tons of tropical, subtropical and temperate climate fruits; and the fifth largest wine producer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Construction Materials is another strategic export sector for Brazil and one driven by the high quality and availability of raw materials as well as state-of-the-art manufacturing processes. The country is the world's second largest producer of ceramic tiles, which are exported to more than 130 countries, covering all continents.

Roberto Ticoulat, president of CECIEx, notes that "the participating Brazilian companies are eager to meet South African buyers and to demonstrate their products as well as the level of service they are able to bring to the table. I expect those importers who haven't yet traded with Brazil will be impressed by the diversity and quality of what Brazil has to offer."