Saudi Arabia buys around US$10 billion in food and beverages abroad, reports Brazil-Arab News Agency. Due to its desert climate, the country produces less than half of what it consumes. As the population is growing fast and the government does not stimulate local agricultural production, to save water for human consumption, the market tendency is for imports to rise.

"Saudi Arabia is not only a great market, but is also our main client," said the director of the market nucleus at the Brazilian Poultry Union (Ubabef), Ricardo Santin. "Consumption there is very high," he added.

Brazil exported 550,000 tonnes of chicken to the Saudis in 2010, whereas its second main market, Japan, imported 385,000 tonnes, according to figures disclosed by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Chicken is the Brazilian product with most success stories in the Saudi market. Brands like Sadia and Perdix, as Perdigão is known in the country, have been market leaders for years and it is possible to find 'Made in Brazil' brands in any supermarket.

Brazilian chicken is market leader

In this sector, Brazil is much ahead of other exporters, as, according to Mr Santin, the country's market share is 90 per cent of the Saudi imported chicken sector. "[In Saudi Arabia] we have a strong market, consistent and free of problems," said the executive.

Apart from chicken, other food products that Saudi Arabia imports in great volumes from Brazil are sugar, beef, maize and soy. Brazilian exporters know that the market demands much in agricultural products in bulk.