Brazilian companies rely on Morocco as a logistics hub to export their goods to Europe and the Gulf
Follow-Up
Brazillian companies have begun to adopt Morocco as a key logistics center for reloading their goods heading to Europe and Gulf countries, in a strategic move aimed at reducing maritime transport costs, accelerating distribution processes, and minimizing the carbon footprint of global supply chains.
According to a report from the Brazilian Arabic News Agency (ANBA), this trend comes as an innovative solution to the lack of direct shipping lines between Brazil and Gulf countries, along with the challenges related to the imbalance of traded goods. Brazil exports refrigerated products while importing oil and fertilizers, making it difficult to use the same ships for both directions.
This development was highlighted during a seminar organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) on maritime logistics, where experts explained that Moroccan ports, particularly the Tangier-Med Port, play a crucial role as a transit hub for reloading containers from ships coming from Brazil to smaller vessels heading to their final destinations in Europe and the Gulf.
Rodrigo Pestana, a representative of global shipping company Maersk, stated that trade exchanges between Brazil and Gulf countries rose by 20 percent between 2021 and 2024, noting that 66 percent of Brazilian exports to the region consist of refrigerated goods. He added that the punctuality of ships on the Santos-Tangier route reached 86 percent, outperforming the global average of 65 percent, reflecting the efficiency of this logistical pathway.
Official figures indicate that Brazil’s exports to 22 Arab countries reached $23.6 billion in 2024, compared to imports valued at $10.1 billion, while maritime transport accounts for approximately 97 percent of the total volume of trade exchanges, enhancing Morocco’s role in this network.
Higor Guler, a representative of the Brazilian food giant BRF, confirmed that the company exports approximately 60,000 tons of halal products to Arab markets each month and relies on Moroccan transit ports to ensure smooth distribution amid limited storage capacity.
Participants in the seminar believe that enhancing trade volumes and reducing shipping costs could pave the way for launching a direct shipping line between Brazil and Gulf countries in the near future.
Mohamed Arra Murad, Secretary-General of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, concluded by emphasizing the strategic importance of Arab ports, particularly Tangier-Med and the Suez Canal, in supporting trade exchange and achieving a sustainable economic balance between Brazil and the Arab world.
