São Paulo - Brazil expects to triple its modest share of the Russian market within three to four years. At the moment, 2% of Russian imports come from Brazil. The first step to reaching that goal is a trade show that will take place in Moscow between September 24 and 28, featuring Brazilian footwear, clothing, perfumes and jewelry, besides cachaça, coffee and fruit juices. Brazilian entertainers will also perform at the event. As part of the exhibition, the organizers are offering to bring Russian journalists to Brazil to see the country and its products.

In the first half of this year, Brazilian exports to Russia rose 3% to US$690.2 million. The number of Brazilian firms exporting to Russia rose by 25% during that period. Brazilian products with a good chance of acceptance in Russia, besides those mentioned above, are: beef, pork and poultry, cheeses, bananas and oranges, soybean oil, cacau and chocolate, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, tires, sanitary napkins, textiles, washing machines, telephone and telegraph equipment, and automobiles.

The Russian economy has been expanding strongly. It was up 7.3% in 2003, and estimates are that it will grow 6% this year. With a population of 144 million and a GDP of US$434.2 billion, the Russians imported US$74.5 billion worth of goods in 2003 (exporting US$135.2 billion).

Russia is Brazil's 14th biggest trade partner.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Marli Moreira
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/13/2004