Exports from Paraná to Asia, Africa and the Middle East break records in the 1st half of 2024

Paraná achieved its best performance in sales to the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asian markets in the 1st half of 2024, with the majority of production shipped through Paraná ports. This is what data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services show, organized and analyzed by the Paraná Institute of Economic and Social Development (Ipardes).

The record performance in these regions of the world adds to that of traditional markets, such as China, the United States and Argentina, which meant that exports from Paraná totaled more than US$ 11,5 billion between January and June this year, the fifth best result from the country.

Exports from Paraná to the Middle East, a bloc made up of 14 countries, totaled US$ 1,1 billion in the first six months of this year, exceeding by 46% the US$ 774,4 million recorded in the same period of 2023 and the first half of 2019 (US$893 million), the best so far. Chicken meat and sugar topped the list of best-selling goods in the region.

The largest volume of commercial transactions was with the United Arab Emirates, with US$ 279 million in revenue for the State in the 1st half of 2024. Following are Iran, with US$ 244 million in revenue, Saudi Arabia, with US $180 million, and Iraq with $127 million.

Agribusiness products also had a relevant weight in sales in Paraná to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), made up of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and Vietnam. With US$244 million in revenue, Indonesia was the largest consumer market for Paraná products in the region until mid-2024. Then came Vietnam (US$196 million), Singapore (US$156 million) and Thailand (US$120 millions).

In total, the countries that make up Asean purchased US$844 million in goods from Paraná between January and June this year, 57% above the value recorded in the same time period in 2023, which was US$538 million. The result is also almost three times higher than trade with this region in the first half of 2018 (US$308 million). The most recent performance was driven, above all, by the trade in soybeans and sugar.

In the case of the African market, state exports jumped from US$499 million to US$586 million in the 1st half of the year, with emphasis on Egypt, South Africa and Algeria which reached US$112 million, US$83 million and US$71 million in purchases, respectively. The previous record was in the first half of 2022 (US$552 million). Chicken meat and sugar led the way in trade with the continent.

According to the president of Ipardes, Jorge Callado, the main products that drove record performance in new consumer markets reinforce Paraná's potential as a major producer of value-added foods. The numbers highlight the importance of the State in meeting the growing global demand for food, which is reflected in the generation of more jobs and income for the population involved in this production chain.

“Paraná presented impressive numbers in exports in the first half of the year with the conquest of new markets in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, with chicken, sugar, soy and other agribusiness products as its flagships. Of the US$11,5 billion, around US$8 billion was represented by food, which reinforces Paraná's position as the 'supermarket of the world'”, he assessed.