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Qatar Airways Cargo Teams Up with Cainiao to Launch a Weekly Charter Flight Linking China and Brazil

cargoai donation Qatar Airways Cargo Teams Up with Cainiao to Launch a Weekly Charter Flight Linking China and Brazil

Qatar Airways Cargo Teams Up with Cainiao to Launch a Weekly Charter Flight Linking China and Brazil

Cainiao partners with Qatar Airways Cargo to support e-commerce growth in South America with the launch of a weekly Boeing 777 freighter service linking Hong Kong (HKG), China, and São Paulo (GRU), Brazil.

 DOHA, Qatar/HANGZHOU, China – Cainiao Network (Cainiao), the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, announced the partnership with Qatar Airways Cargo to launch a weekly charter flight from Hong Kong (HKG), China, to São Paulo (GRU), Brazil, and serve one of Cainiao’s fastest-growing e-commerce destinations in Latin America.

On 5 March, the first Cainiao chartered Boeing 777 freighter departed Hong Kong Airport (HKG) at 6.45 p.m. UTC, headed for Guarulhos Airport (GRU), São Paulo, Brazil, with a tech stop at Qatar Airways Cargo’s hub in Doha, Qatar. The cargo on board included online retail products such as beauty and fashion goods, jewelry, watches, appliances, toys, and sports equipment. Operating once a week, the Boeing 777 freighter provides 100 tonnes of cargo capacity.

“Cainiao’s mission is to deliver globally within 72 hours; a goal that can be achieved with the right logistics partners. In just over a year, Cainiao has established a comprehensive operation in Latin America, and we see that e-commerce retail in Brazil, in particular, is growing at a phenomenal rate. With Qatar Airways Cargo, we are in a good position to support that growth, and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership,” says William Xiong, Cainiao’s Chief Strategist and General Manager for Export Logistics. Cainiao has experienced a three-figure growth rate in its Latin American business over the past year and has driven a focused air cargo network expansion in recent months to secure smooth supply chain performance.

“There is no doubt that e-commerce is not only here to stay but is also one of the fastest-growing commodities within logistics, today. It demands versatility, speed, accuracy, and a reliable, global network,” Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo of Qatar Airways Cargo, explains. “We are constantly enhancing our service offering. We launched specialized e-commerce products with charter programs, among others, back in 2015, already – around the same time as we began operations to Guarulhos, São Paulo. We are therefore in a strong position to assist Cainiao, both with our understanding of and experience in handling fast-moving consumer goods, as well as with our established network and trained staff at all three charter touchpoints: in Hong Kong, at our state-of-the-art hub in Doha, and at São Paulo. We are delighted to welcome Cainiao on board.”

coffee

Coffee Prices Jump to Seven-Year Highs Due to Brazilian Frosts

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Coffee (Green) – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

Global prices for coffee have skyrocketed to a seven-year high, driven by fears of a significant reduction in production in Brazil due to freezes and the depletion of global stocks. Further growth in prices for the product will be stimulated by the reduction in production in other leading supplying countries such as Honduras and Indonesia, coupled with increased freight costs. A decrease in coffee production will lead to a fall in global exports by -4% y-o-y, which could lead to local imbalances in supply and demand and drive up consumer prices in key European and American markets.

Key Trends and Insights

Due to an expected reduction in coffee stocks following the fall of production in Brazil, prices on the global coffee market have skyrocketed in the middle of the current year. Futures in Arabica on the ICE exchange in July 2021 exceeded $2 per pound for the first time in seven years.

Abnormal freezes in the Brazilian states of São-Paolo, Paraná, and Minas Gerais in July this year damaged more than 200K hectares and will affect plantation yields. As a result, coffee production according to USDA estimates may decline by -30% y-o-y to 2.2M tonnes by the end of 2021. Labor shortages related to the pandemic, logistical difficulties and the rise of freight costs are further deterring supply and stimulating the price increases.

Brazil remains the leading supplier of green coffee with 29.3% of global exports. Following that is Vietnam (17.2%), Colombia (10.3%), Honduras (5.2%) and Indonesia (3.4%). Global coffee exports will fall by -4% y-o-y to 16.6M tonnes in 2021 owing primarily to the reduction in supplies from Brazil.

According to IndexBox estimates, based on USDA data, the production of Arabica coffee in Vietnam will rise by +15% y-o-y in the current year and the production of Robusta will contract by -2% y-o-y. In Colombia, coffee production will maintain its 2020 levels. Production in Honduras and Indonesia is expected to decline by -12% y-o-y and –2% y-o-y respectively. The expected drop in global coffee production by -6% y-o-y to 9.8M tonnes amidst an increase in demand by +1% y-o-y this year will lead to a reduction in world stocks and further increases in price.

The import of green coffee into the EU should fall by -5% y-o-y up to 2.9M tonnes due to the decrease in crop fields in the primary supplier countries of Brazil and Honduras. In the U.S. a less severe drop in imports is expected – by -1% y-o-y to 4.2M tonnes since a significant part of coffee beans comes from countries with stable crop yields during the current year, such as Vietnam and Colombia. A reduction in coffee stocks can lead to imbalances of supply and demand that will threaten the growth of consumer prices for the drink in retail and food services.

Global Coffee Production

In 2020, approx. 10M tonnes of coffee (green) were produced worldwide; surging by 1.8% compared with the previous year. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.3% over the period from 2012 to 2020. In value terms, green coffee production rose markedly to $27.7B in 2020 estimated in export prices.

The countries with the highest volumes of green coffee production in 2020 were Brazil (3.1M tonnes), Viet Nam (1.7M tonnes) and Colombia (897K tonnes), with a combined 55% share of global production. These countries were followed by Indonesia, Ethiopia, Honduras, Peru, India, Uganda, Guatemala, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Nicaragua and Mexico, which together accounted for a further 33%.

Coffee Exports by Country

After two years of growth, overseas shipments of coffee (green) decreased by -6.5% to 6.8M tonnes in 2020. In value terms, green coffee exports fell to $17.3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2020.

In 2020, Brazil (2.4M tonnes) was the largest exporter of coffee (green), mixing up 35% of total exports. It was distantly followed by Viet Nam (1,208K tonnes), Colombia (599K tonnes) and Indonesia (376K tonnes), together committing a 32% share of total exports. The following exporters – Honduras (305K tonnes), Germany (210K tonnes), India (206K tonnes), Uganda (205K tonnes), Guatemala (190K tonnes), Ethiopia (175K tonnes), Peru (172K tonnes) and Nicaragua (128K tonnes) – together made up 23% of total exports.

In value terms, Brazil ($5B) remains the largest green coffee supplier worldwide, comprising 29% of global exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Colombia ($2.4B), with a 14% share of global exports. It was followed by Viet Nam, with a 11% share.

In 2020, the average green coffee export price amounted to $2,531 per tonne, increasing by 4% against the previous year. From 2012 to 2020, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Peru, while the other global leaders experienced a decline in the export price figures.

Source: IndexBox Platform

chemical

China Boosts Imports of Chemical Wood Pulp to Meet Growing Demand for Paper Packaging

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘China – Chemical Wood Pulp – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

In 2020, China increased its chemical wood pulp imports by +10% y-o-y to 24M tonnes. It was driven by rising demand for paper packaging and tableware amid the pandemic and further stimulated by a sharp fall in import prices last year. Brazil, Indonesia and Canada are the major suppliers, providing 57% of the total import volume. Bleached sulphate pulp accounted for 95% of total wood pulp imports into China

Chemical Wood Pulp Imports into China by Country

Chemical wood pulp imports into China amounted to 24M tonnes in 2020, growing by +10% against the previous year’s figure.  A sharp fall in pulp prices last year also encouraged importers to increase purchases. In value terms, chemical wood pulp imports fell by -9.5% to $12B in 2020 (IndexBox estimates).

In 2020, Brazil (7.2M tonnes) constituted the largest chemical wood pulp supplier to China, with a 30% share of total imports. Moreover, chemical wood pulp imports from Brazil exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, Indonesia (3.5M tonnes), twofold. The third position in this ranking was occupied by Canada (2.9M tonnes), with a 12% share.

In 2020, the highest increases in terms of chemical wood pulp volume supplied to China were registered in Indonesia (+25.2% y-o-y), Brazil totalled (+14.6% y-o-y) and Russia (+10.2% y-o-y). By contrast, Canada reduced its export volume to China by -3.6% y-o-y.

In value terms, Brazil ($3.3B) constituted the largest supplier of chemical wood pulp to China, comprising 28% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Canada ($1.6B), with a 14% share of total imports. It was followed by Indonesia, with a 13% share.

The average chemical wood pulp import price stood at $507 per tonne in 2020, falling by -17.8% against the previous year. A drop in demand for chemical wood pulp from printing and writing paper mills became the main reason for the price reduction.

Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major supplying countries. In 2020, the countries with the highest prices were the U.S. ($582 per tonne) and Canada ($569 per tonne), while the prices for the product from Indonesia ($448 per tonne) and Brazil ($467 per tonne) were amongst the lowest.

Chemical Wood Pulp Imports by Type

In 2020, bleached sulphate pulp (23M tonnes) was the main type of chemical wood pulp supplied to China, with a 95% share of total imports. Moreover, bleached sulphate pulp exceeded the figures recorded for the second-largest type, unbleached sulphate pulp (1.1M tonnes), more than tenfold.

In value terms, bleached sulphate pulp ($11.4B) constituted the largest type of chemical wood pulp supplied to China, comprising 95% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by unbleached sulphate pulp ($560M), with a 4.7% share of total imports.

Source: IndexBox Platform

energy

Brazilian’s Minister of State of Mines and Energy goes in Depth about Brazil’s Resilience through the Pandemic

Brazil has proven to be a durable country despite the peculiar situation faced globally. As Latin America’s largest country, Brazil has secured $78.2 billion in investments this year while making significant improvements to drive its sustained success. The recent changes have resulted in the country becoming a global hub for innovation and economics.

Global Trade Magazine had the opportunity to speak with Minister Bento Albuquerque, Brazilian Minister of State of Mines and Energy, through an exclusive opportunity, Albuquerque expanded on Brazil’s resilience throughout the global pandemic, notable investment opportunities, and how unique factors have affected the business of Brazil’s energy sectors.

 

 

What is the current state of the energy sector in Brazil and what are the goals for the next year?

The energy sector in Brazil is flourishing with undergoing reforms and opportunities that are being created in this context.

The national council made important decisions regarding the energy (CNPE) policy in 2019, before the pandemic. The decisions made several reforms possible and increased the number of auctions that were scheduled in advance to support investors’ decisions.

Two comprehensive and sectoral reforms are being implemented as we speak. First, the new gas law, which was sanctioned by President Jair Bolsonaro on April 8th, 2021. The new legal framework will make room for a more open, dynamic, and competitive gas market with increased opportunities for new agents. Aligned with the new gas market policy, many companies are already announcing important investments in the Brazilian Natural Gas Sector.

Secondly, in ten years our power load will increase about 27 GW on average. Brazil must enable investments in the expansion of its power system. We are fully committed to the modernization of our power sector by expanding methods and abiding by a modern, robust set of regulations. We are working towards opening our energy market to the all-out consumer, promoting efficient cost and risk allocation, making sure the power supply continues to be safe and reliable and promoting rules and regulations that incorporate all new technologies.

Finally, part of the modernization regulatory package was approved by our national congress under Law No.14.120.21. The Federal Government declared it one of its top priorities. 2022 will focus on the concretization of projects and opportunities and the upcoming auctions are the gateway to turn these projects into reality, as we count on foreign and national investors to help us push these initiatives forwards.

What are the competitive advantages Brazil’s energy sector offers business?

 When discussing the oil and gas sector beyond opening up and unbundling the natural gas market, we are promoting a strong divestment program in oil refining- a new era for our downstream. Petrobras recently approved a sale of RLAM (Landulpho Alves Refinery- 14% of Brazil’s total oil refining capacity) to a Mubadala capital for the US $1.65 billion. Moreover, the E&P expertise, the improvement of our regulatory agenda and the quality of our oil improve competitiveness in the Brazilian offshore basins, turning Brazil into a world leader in this segment.

Brazil is the world’s largest producer of sugarcane ethanol and the second-largest producer of biodiesel, which is based mainly on soy oilseed and animal fat. Our goal is to increase international cooperation in biofuels, by the transfer of technology and expertise to other countries.

The Brazilian population will grow at 6% until 2030 reaching 225.4 million inhabitants. The expectation is there will be around 83 million permanent private households in 2030, an increase of 13 million. The way our power sector is today, we have 186 thousand MW of installed compacity; 162.7 thousand KM of transmission lines; 70 million consumer units. With the increase of modernization, there will be plenty of room to expand with the incorporation of new technologies. Guaranteeing reliability in supply, suitable risk, and costs of allocation. Our region has the challenge of keeping our power matrix as clean and renewable as possible, while expanding its capacity and promoting energy security.

How is the energy sector contributing to foreign direct investment in Brazil?

Between 2019 and 2020, about USD 32 billion was invested in the energy and mining sectors in Brazil. Last year, 26% of the total foreign direct investment was directed to the energy and mining sectors alone. We are convinced that business environment improvement and agent’s confidence recovery help consolidate the pace of economic growth.

We annually update and publish our 10-year expansion plan. According to its predictions, as much as USD 44 billion is expected to be invested in the energy, oil, natural gas, and biofuels sector in the next 10 years. (E&P about the US $337 billion, supply $4.1 billion, natural gas $17.9 billion, and biofuels $12.8 billion)

For the same period, the total investment expected for centralized generation, distributed generation and transmission systems will be about USD 68 billion.

To boost economic recovery and improve the business environment we have updated our legal and regulatory frameworks, strengthened legal certainty, reinforced the governance in our institutions, introduced more predictability and transparency, and designed our projects bearing in mind OECD standards of environmental, social, and governance impact.

How do you think Brazil’s resilience during the pandemic affected the business environment and energy sectors in Brazil?

Brazil managed to look through the pandemic with good governance and method. The federal government created a committee to monitor the Covid-19 impact on the economy. At the ministry of mines and energy side, we established three sectorial committees. Three of the outcomes are the uninterrupted power supply, the guaranteed supply of fuels, and the preservation of mining activities. Several decisions were made in order to minimize the impact on consumers and preserve the attractiveness on the supply side.

As far as the power supply is concerned, 10 million households that use less than 220 KWh a month were exempted from chargers. We created a “Covid Account” in order to minimize the impact on consumers, causing tariffs to plummet from 12% to 3%. Hydrological risk -which was a concern for hydropower plants- was duly tackled by the parliament. In 2021, Energy consumption increased by 19.2% in comparison to 2020.

The whole chain of production has been monitored as of day one. Consumption of gasoline and ethanol fell significantly but resumed by the fourth quarter of last year. The LPG, the ministry of mines, and energy made awareness campaigns to put a halt on panic buying LPG and the rate was around +2.6% last May. The mandatory blending of biofuels was revised so that targets could be met under current circumstances.

Exports of crude oil and iron represented 21.1% of the total exports in 2020, reaching around USD 45.4 billion in our trade balance.

As a timely measure taken at the beginning of the pandemic, we managed to declare mining as an essential service for the economy, taking into account that mineral goods are the basis of the Brazilian industry. We made arrangements to extend administrative timeframes in a reasonable manner, and donations by the private sector to tackle the pandemic played an important role in our collective effort., By caring for the health of our sectors, our actions focus on the health of our citizens.

How do you predict Brazil’s business environment post pandemic?

 Economic measures led to growth in 2020, focusing on the most vulnerable population. After a server downfall in April 2020, which affected primarily income, jobs, and family habits, industry, trades, and services in Brazil have made a V-shaped trajectory of recovery. Stabilization was evident in the fourth quarter of 2020. This was the result of a concerted and temporary effort involving government, associations, and the private sector.

The pension reform, the tax reform, and the administrative reform will allow the Brazilian government to save almost USD 375 billion in ten years. A more productive economy leads to higher demand for employment. Some scenarios foresee an injection of up to 370 thousand job opportunities in the labor market. Additionally, to the reforms passing at our house representatives, outstanding programs contributed to the Brazilian economic rebound.

When it comes to government expenses, it is important to stress that we do differ emergency measures from structural ones. Emergency measures are temporary. Otherwise, structural reforms are aimed at fiscal consolidation and increase productivity. Brazil believes that mass vaccination, fiscal consolidation, and structural reforms are the way to long-term sustainable economic growth.

How did Brazil’s resilience differ from other countries during the pandemic?

 I wouldn’t like to judge other country’s domestic decisions, but Brazil does attribute positive results. We can showcase today in terms of the functioning of our mines and energy sectors to the robust governance that has focused on the people’s and sector’s health.

Crosscutting decisions taken back in 2019 made it possible for us to promote sectoral reforms that are meant to dramatically change the way these sectors work. We developed robust governance and evidence-based information to support policymakers in the pandemic. Finally, we designed policy and recommendations focused on the preservation of structural arrangements, with attention to the customers and competitiveness on the supply agenda.

As demand increases, we will need a more robust energy infrastructure. Brazil is a developing country and energy is the basis for development. Furthermore, Brazil is extremely well-positioned to take advantage of the ongoing energy transition. We believe in international collaboration, partnerships, and investments to make our projects a reality in the coming years.

coffee

Global Coffee Market Enjoys Ongoing Growth Despite Pandemic

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Coffee (Green) – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

Coffee yield figures remained robust in 2020 and coffee bean exports increased, despite the disruption to supply chains caused by the Coronavirus restrictions. Home coffee consumption surged, thereby helping to offset the slump in sales following the closure of the HoReCa segment. Average prices remained growing gradually through to Q1 2021. 

Key Trends and Insights

Favorable weather conditions in 2020 enabled coffee bean crop figures to remain high. IndexBox estimates based on the USDA and International Coffee Organization (ICO) data indicate that global coffee production increased by +3.3% over the last year, reaching 10.5 million tonnes. According to ICO, Robusta coffee bean production fell by -2.8% year-on-year, while Arabica coffee bean output increased by +13.6%, amounting to 6.3 million tonnes and 4.2 million tonnes, respectively. Production slowed in Africa (-0.9% y-o-y) and Mexico and Central America (-0.1%), but South America indicated significant growth (+13.9% y-o-y).

Global coffee exports increased by 2.4% against the previous year, reaching 7.6 billion tonnes (IndexBox estimates). Brazil, recording a 2.5 million tonne shipments volume, continues to lead in terms of exports (IndexBox estimates).

Coffee prices, monitored by the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) Monthly Price Index, averaged 120.36 US cents/lb in March 2021, against 119.35 US cents/lb in February of this year. In 2020, average coffee prices fluctuated between 99.05-116.25 US cents/lb. Over the pandemic, prices grew gradually, and this trend persisted in Q1 2021.

In the medium term to 2030, market growth is forecast to continue, bringing the market volume to approx. 12.4 million tonnes, due to rising population and an increase in disposable income (IndexBox estimates). Should the pandemic wane in 2021, and HoReCa and tourism restrictions be removed, it would promote market growth.

Brazil to Dominate the Global Green Coffee Production and Export Market

Global green coffee production amounted to 10M tonnes in 2019, reducing by -4% in 2018. In general, production, however, saw a slight expansion. In value terms, green coffee production declined to $25.6B in 2019 estimated at export prices.

The countries with the highest volumes of green coffee production in 2019 were Brazil (3M tonnes), Viet Nam (1.7M tonnes) and Colombia (885K tonnes), together accounting for 55% of global production (IndexBox estimates).

From 2012 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of green coffee production, amongst the key producing countries, was attained by Colombia, while production for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In 2019, Brazil (2.2M tonnes), distantly followed by Viet Nam (1,388K tonnes), Colombia (681K tonnes) and Honduras (360K tonnes) were the major exporters of coffee (green), together committing 63% of total exports. The following exporters – Indonesia (318K tonnes), Ethiopia (237K tonnes), India (233K tonnes), Belgium (231K tonnes), Peru (222K tonnes), Germany (213K tonnes), Uganda (203K tonnes), Guatemala (191K tonnes) and Nicaragua (159K tonnes) – together made up 27% of total exports.

From 2012 to 2019, the biggest increases were in Colombia, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Brazil ($4.6B), Colombia ($2.5B) and Viet Nam ($2.1B) were the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2019, with a combined 51% share of global exports.

Among the main exporting countries, Colombia saw the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced a decline in the exports figures.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

brazil

Brazil’s Electric Power Transmission Auction Paves the Way in Economic Recovery and Foreign Investment

On December 17th, Brazil will kick off its upcoming Electric Power Transmission Auction. This event, which will take place in São Paulo, is critical for Brazil’s forward-movement in economic recovery since the pandemic. ANEEL – the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency, will be hosting the auction to attract investments to the energy sector, and ultimately create jobs. Global Trade Magazine heard directly from Roberto Escoto, Investment Manager of Apex-Brasil (the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) to learn more about the event and its importance in the foreign investment arena.

 

 

 

 

Discuss the goals for the upcoming Electric Power Transmission Auction and the issues it’s aiming to solve.

The upcoming Electric Power Transmission Auction will be held on December 17, 2020 by the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) at B3 S/A – Brasil, headquartered in São Paulo.

There are 11 lots of projects, covering 1,940 km of transmission lines and substations with a transformation capacity of 6,420 MVA. The transmission facilities that will be auctioned involve investments of about BRL $7.4 billion, with the potential of generating 15,434 thousand jobs during construction of the projects.

The term for commercial operation of the facilities varies from 42 to 60 months, for concessions of 30 years valid from the signing date of the contracts. Concessions will be tendered for the construction, operation, and maintenance of 16 transmission lines and 12 substations.

Brazil’s main transmission network, the National Interconnected System (Sistema Interligado Nacional – or SIN), consists of four interconnected subsystems (North, Northeast, Southeast and Center-West, and South). Together, this makes up one of the largest interconnected subsystems in the world. The Brazilian network has interconnections with neighboring Paraguay (through the Itaipu Binational project), as well as with Uruguay, Argentina, and Venezuela.

The system operator (ONS) expects the Brazilian transmission network to grow extensively by 2024.  More specifically, ONS envisages an extension of the grid towards the less well-connected regions of Brazil, as well as work to make further improvements to the existing grid in other parts of the country. The upcoming Electric Power Transmission Auction in December 2020 aims to assist in achieving these goals.

How does the region create and maintain a competitive environment for initiatives in the energy sector and foreign investment?

The electricity sector in Brazil – in generation, transmission, and distribution – is now one of the largest destinations of foreign direct investment in the world. The growing interest from foreign investors is driven by strong business opportunities, with private players having the chance to compete in all segments of the sector, combined with the strengthening of Brazil’s regulatory framework.

What major companies are already benefiting from investment opportunities/energy sector in this region? 

Companies from all around the world are benefiting from the investment opportunities within Brazil’s energy sector, including but not limited to Iberdrola, Enel, EDP, Engie, EDF, EDP, Statkraft, Equinor, State Grid, China Three Gorges, CGN, Brookfield, Suncor, Canadian Solar, and more.

Discuss how you identify and lead multi-sector business development opportunities? 

Apex-Brasil has an extensive international network of partner organizations, associations, and companies. We have offices in the U.S. (Miami and San Francisco), Europe (Brussels), Israel (Jerusalem), Russia (Moscow), China (Shanghai and Beijing), the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), and Colombia (Bogota). Additionally, since we work in close partnership with the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have access to over 100 Embassies around the world. Finally, we have a market intelligence unit that supports our efforts with relevant information on the international economy, business, and key players.

This global reach and intelligence allow us to map and prospect the right investors, as well as introduce Brazilian companies to foreign investors on international business trips.

How is the workforce prepared for incoming investors? How about for current investors?

Brazil is a populous country with a workforce of over 100 million people. The sectors that usually gather the largest number of Brazilian workers, according to IBGE’s statistic report (PNAD), are retail and mechanic workshops, public administration, defense, education, health, social services, information and communications services, financial activities, realty, and administration.

In 2017, Brazil’s Congress approved a reform in the country’s work legislation, known as the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT). The main goal of this reform was to make the laws more flexible, with a specific focus on negotiations between employers and employees.

As a result, new rules have emerged, allowing for outsourcing of labor in a company’s main activity, home-office regulation, and more accountability for employees in lawsuits against employers. That said, collective bargaining agreements between employers and unions may offset some points written in the law, adjusting the terms to the necessities of the workers. Some of these topics include working hours, profit sharing, and sanitary standards (which were previously established only by the employer).

However, this does not mean that workers are left unprotected, as their fundamental rights cannot be negotiated under CLT. These rights include maternity and paternity leave, holidays, minimum wage, 13th salary, retirement, and the Guarantee Fund for Continuing Service (FGTS), which is a type of savings account taken directly from workers’ salaries that aims to protect the worker’s subsistence in case of dismissal but can also be used to buy residential properties.

Also, Brazil has first-rank universities and engineers with expertise in onshore and offshore technologies, as well as in EPC entrepreneurships.

Brazil has a skilled and diversified labor market, as well as favorable labor framework conditions for investors.

Let’s discuss how the region has managed the energy sector climate during the pandemic and other disruptions. What should companies know and how are you addressing it?

Brazil is taking concrete actions to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and still remain globally competitive. Among other measures, the Brazilian government has launched a package to protect both workers, especially the most vulnerable people, and SMEs.

When it comes to the power sector specifically, several initiatives have been introduced since the start of the pandemic. This includes but is not limited to the following measures:

First, a Committee of Crisis and Monitoring, composed of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), and other authorities and experts, has been established to map and act quickly on the challenges that the pandemic has imposed.

Second, MME and ANEEL, along with banks, have designed and implemented the “COVID account,” which offers loans of a total of USD $16.1 billion for energy companies, with the goal of providing liquidity to the sector, especially in the key segment of distribution.

Finally, MME has launched the green bonds program, which is favorable for obtaining financing for new energy projects, with an estimated gradual release of USD $250 by 2030. It is envisioned that this particular program will contribute to expanding 25 GW for new wind energy, 8GW for solar and energy, and 3 GW for small hydro plants.

Please share anything else you’d like the readers to know about Brazil’s investment climate.

Brazil has one of the cleanest electric matrices in the world, with over 80% of our electricity coming from renewable sources. Currently, hydro represents 58% of the Brazilian power generation mix, while biomass, wind, and solar have a share of 11%, 9%, and 2%, respectively. In 2029, it is expected that these sources will represent 42%, 10%, 16%, and 8%, respectively, of our power generation mix. With this forecast in mind, it is clear that wind and solar energies are increasing fast and constantly, underscoring their importance now and in the future. That said, this growth is not a surprise: Solar and wind are very competitive areas, and Brazil offers unique differentiators for investors to consider.

For example, Brazil has one of the highest capacity factors for wind energy in the world, with an average above 40%. Brazil also has the highest growth rate for wind in Latin America over the last 10 years. Additionally, our solar irradiation is higher than those of other counties, such as Spain, France, and Germany. What’s more, the power generation segment has opportunities in auctions, free market (Corporate Power Purchase Agreements model), and distributed market (i.e. type of net metering model) – these are all important drivers for the growth of these two sources.

To conclude, Brazil´s energy sector has a successful regulatory framework that is prime for foreign direct investment. Additionally, all of the energy segments in Brazil (generation, transmission, and distribution) are open to private investors. Lastly, Brazil has a solid track record of success and growth in this sector, which is the reason why the power sector attracted so much foreign investment in 2019, as well as why we expect this growth to continue in the coming years.

corruption

U.S. and Brazil Update Agreement to Increase Transparency and Combat Corruption

The United States and Brazil signed a new protocol on anti-corruption and trade facilitation as an update to the existing 2011 Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation (ATEC). According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the protocol adds three new annexes with provisions on customs procedures, transparent regulatory practices, and anti-corruption policies.

Annex I, “Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation”, includes provisions to increase customs cooperation between the U.S. and Brazil, including on trade enforcement. These provisions include agreeing to online publication of customs information, the acceptance of electronic documents under international standards, mechanisms to ensure consistent customs treatment from port to port, and a single window for electronic submission of import, export, and transit documentation.

Annex II, “Good Regulatory Practices”, includes provisions to provide greater transparency about Brazil’s regulatory procedures. These provisions include agreeing to online publication of draft regulations, providing opportunity for interested parties to comment, and encourage authorities to assess regulations to reduce regulatory burden.

Annex III, “Anticorruption”, includes commitments to prevent and combat corruption, including provisions to preclude the tax deductibility of bribes, provisions regarding the maintenance of books and records, and provisions to establish whistleblower protections for those who report corruption.

The full protocol to the ATEC and a fact sheet can be found on the USTR’s website.

_____________________________________________________________

Stephen Brophy is an attorney in Husch Blackwell LLP’s Washington, D.C. office focusing on international trade.

Camron Greer is an Assistant Trade Analyst in Husch Blackwell LLP’s Washington, D.C. office.

asparagus

Mexico and Peru Dominate the Rising American Asparagus Market

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘U.S. – Asparagus – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The U.S. asparagus market rose modestly to $717M in 2019, surging by 4.1% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). The market value increased at an average annual rate of +5.9% over the period from 2013 to 2019; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Asparagus consumption peaked in 2019 and is expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Production in the U.S.

In 2019, the production of asparagus decreased by -4.7% to 34K tonnes, falling for the second year in a row after two years of growth. Overall, production showed a relatively flat trend pattern. In value terms, asparagus production contracted to $123M in 2019. Given the relatively small production volume, the market is largely supplied by imported asparagus.

Harvested Area and Yield in the U.S.

The asparagus harvested area in the U.S. contracted to 8.3K ha in 2019, with a decrease of -5.1% compared with the previous year’s figure. In general, the harvested area continues to indicate a noticeable shrinkage.

The average yield of asparagus in the U.S. reached 4.1 tonnes per ha in 2019, remaining stable against the previous year. The yield figure increased at an average annual rate of +2.6% from 2013 to 2019; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations in certain years.

Imports into the U.S.

In 2019, imports of asparagus into the U.S. amounted to 259K tonnes, therefore, remained relatively stable against the previous year. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +5.6% over the period from 2013 to 2019; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, asparagus imports rose sharply to $761M (IndexBox estimates) in 2019. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +7.0% over the period from 2013 to 2019.

Imports by Country

Mexico (166K tonnes) and Peru (91K tonnes) were the main suppliers of asparagus imports to the U.S., together comprising 99% of total imports.

From 2013 to 2019, the biggest increases were recorded for imports from Mexico, which increased from 96K tonnes to 166K tonnes.

In value terms, the largest asparagus suppliers to the U.S. were Mexico ($435M) and Peru ($316M), with a combined 99% share of total imports.

Import Prices by Country

In 2019, the average asparagus import price amounted to $2,931 per tonne, increasing by 5% against the previous year. Over the period from 2013 to 2019, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.3%. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 an increase of 22% against the previous year. As a result, import price attained the peak level of $3,378 per tonne. From 2016 to 2019, the growth in terms of the average import prices remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major supplying countries. In 2019, the country with the highest price was Peru ($3,458 per tonne), while the price for Mexico amounted to $2,624 per tonne.

From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Peru.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

orange juice

Global Concentrated Orange Juice Market – Brazil Strengthened Its Position as the World’s Leading Exporter

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Concentrated Orange Juice – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The global concentrated orange juice market revenue amounted to $4B in 2018, growing by 6.1% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). The market value increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% from 2008 to 2018; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The global concentrated orange juice market peaked in 2018 and is likely to continue its growth in the near future.

Consumption By Country

The countries with the highest volumes of concentrated orange juice consumption in 2018 were Brazil (674K tonnes), the U.S. (656K tonnes) and France (141K tonnes), with a combined 62% share of global consumption. The UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, Spain and Ireland lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 18%.

From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of concentrated orange juice consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by Japan, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the U.S. ($1.4B), Brazil ($1.1B) and France ($218M) were the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2018, together accounting for 69% of the global market. These countries were followed by the Netherlands, Belgium, Japan, the UK, Ireland and Spain, which together accounted for a further 16%.

The countries with the highest levels of concentrated orange juice per capita consumption in 2018 were Belgium (8,445 kg per 1000 persons), Ireland (7,486 kg per 1000 persons) and the Netherlands (5,039 kg per 1000 persons).

From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of concentrated orange juice per capita consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by Japan, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Market Forecast 2019-2025

Driven by rising demand for concentrated orange juice worldwide, the market is expected to start an upward consumption trend over the next seven years. The performance of the market is forecast to increase slightly, with an anticipated CAGR of +0.6% for the seven-year period from 2018 to 2025, which is projected to bring the market volume to 2.5M tonnes by the end of 2025.

Production 2007-2018

In 2018, the amount of concentrated orange juice produced worldwide totaled 2.2M tonnes, rising by 6% against the previous year. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.8% over the period from 2008 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being observed throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2009 with an increase of 8.3% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global concentrated orange juice production reached its peak figure volume in 2018 and is expected to retain its growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, concentrated orange juice production amounted to $3.4B in 2018 estimated in export prices. In general, the total output indicated a perceptible expansion from 2008 to 2018: its value increased at an average annual rate of +1.8% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, concentrated orange juice production increased by +19.1% against 2016 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2012 when production volume increased by 53% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global concentrated orange juice production reached its maximum level at $3.5B in 2017, and then declined slightly in the following year.

Production By Country

Brazil (1.1M tonnes) constituted the country with the largest volume of concentrated orange juice production, accounting for 49% of total production. Moreover, concentrated orange juice production in Brazil exceeded the figures recorded by the world’s second-largest producer, the U.S. (413K tonnes), threefold. The third position in this ranking was occupied by Mexico (137K tonnes), with a 6.4% share.

In Brazil, concentrated orange juice production expanded at an average annual rate of +3.1% over the period from 2008-2018. The remaining producing countries recorded the following average annual rates of production growth: the U.S. (+0.7% per year) and Mexico (+16.9% per year).

Exports 2007-2018

Global exports totaled 1.3M tonnes in 2018, growing by 16% against the previous year. In general, concentrated orange juice exports, however, continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when exports increased by 16% y-o-y. Over the period under review, global concentrated orange juice exports attained their peak figure at 1.6M tonnes in 2009; however, from 2010 to 2018, exports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, concentrated orange juice exports amounted to $2B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. In general, concentrated orange juice exports, however, continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2010 when exports increased by 11% y-o-y. The global exports peaked at $2.3B in 2011; however, from 2012 to 2018, exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

Brazil was the largest exporting country with an export of about 381K tonnes, which amounted to 30% of total exports. Belgium (146K tonnes) occupied a 12% share (based on tonnes) of total exports, which put it in second place, followed by the Netherlands (12%), Mexico (11%), Costa Rica (9.4%) and Germany (5.2%). The following exporters – Spain (31K tonnes), South Africa (25K tonnes), the UK (22K tonnes), Thailand (20K tonnes) and the U.S. (20K tonnes) – each finished at a 9.4% share of total exports.

From 2008 to 2018, average annual rates of growth with regard to concentrated orange juice exports from Brazil stood at +1.1%. At the same time, Mexico (+29.4%), Costa Rica (+16.4%), South Africa (+9.4%), the UK (+7.3%) and Thailand (+1.6%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Mexico emerged as the fastest-growing exporter in the world, with a CAGR of +29.4% from 2008-2018. By contrast, the Netherlands (-1.4%), Germany (-4.0%), the U.S. (-4.0%), Spain (-6.6%) and Belgium (-9.5%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2008 to 2018, the share of Mexico, Costa Rica and Brazil increased by +9.9%, +7.4% and +3% percentage points, while the Netherlands (-1.7 p.p.), Spain (-2.5 p.p.), Germany (-2.6 p.p.) and Belgium (-19.9 p.p.) saw their share reduced. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the largest concentrated orange juice markets worldwide were Brazil ($706M), Belgium ($418M) and the Netherlands ($358M), together accounting for 74% of global exports. Germany, Costa Rica, Mexico, the U.S., Spain, South Africa, the UK and Thailand lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 18%.

Mexico recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to exports, among the main exporting countries over the last decade, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

The average concentrated orange juice export price stood at $1,593 per tonne in 2018, declining by -6.4% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the concentrated orange juice export price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2011 an increase of 28% year-to-year. In that year, the average export prices for concentrated orange juice attained their peak level of $1,744 per tonne. From 2012 to 2018, the growth in terms of the average export prices for concentrated orange juice remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2018, the country with the highest price was Belgium ($2,855 per tonne), while Mexico ($418 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Belgium, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports 2007-2018

In 2018, approx. 1.5M tonnes of concentrated orange juice were imported worldwide; jumping by 17% against the previous year. Over the period under review, concentrated orange juice imports, however, continue to indicate a measured deduction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 when imports increased by 17% year-to-year. Over the period under review, global concentrated orange juice imports attained their maximum at 2M tonnes in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, concentrated orange juice imports stood at $2.3B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. In general, concentrated orange juice imports, however, continue to indicate a measured drop. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2011 with an increase of 23% against the previous year. The global imports peaked at $2.8B in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, imports remained at a lower figure.

Imports by Country

The countries with the highest levels of concentrated orange juice imports in 2018 were the U.S. (263K tonnes), the Netherlands (231K tonnes), Belgium (190K tonnes), France (142K tonnes), the UK (122K tonnes) and Germany (101K tonnes), together amounting to 71% of total import. The following importers – Japan (51K tonnes), Spain (44K tonnes), Ireland (41K tonnes) and Poland (35K tonnes) – together made up 11% of total imports.

From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of imports, amongst the main importing countries, was attained by Japan, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the Netherlands ($471M), Belgium ($347M) and Germany ($227M) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2018, with a combined 46% share of global imports. These countries were followed by the UK, France, the U.S., Japan, Spain, Poland and Ireland, which together accounted for a further 37%.

Among the main importing countries, Japan experienced the highest growth rate of imports, over the last decade, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2018, the average concentrated orange juice import price amounted to $1,523 per tonne, coming down by -6.1% against the previous year. In general, the concentrated orange juice import price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2011 when the average import price increased by 28% against the previous year. In that year, the average import prices for concentrated orange juice attained their peak level of $1,625 per tonne. From 2012 to 2018, the growth in terms of the average import prices for concentrated orange juice failed to regain its momentum.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest price was Spain ($2,496 per tonne), while the U.S. ($450 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Spain, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

brazil

Comparative Advantage Revealed: What the U.S. Could Gain from an FTA with Brazil

Olá Brasil!

President Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced their desire to “build a new partnership” after meeting in August, potentially through a bilateral free trade agreement. For the time being, the United States and Brazil are starting with some pragmatic approaches, for example by streamlining customs procedures, agreeing on safety standards for Brazil to import U.S. pork and beef, increased imports of U.S. ethanol, and possible ways to expand energy trade.

But Brazil would be a good target for a full U.S. free trade agreement. It is by far the largest South American economy. With total two-way trade reaching $103.9 billion in 2018, Brazil is our ninth-largest export market. Beyond any political merits or challenges, the potential commercial benefits can be shown through textbook economics.

Two-way trade between the US and brazil totaled 103.9 billion in 2018

“Revealed” Comparative Advantage

In a 1965 paper entitled Trade Liberalisation and “Revealed” Comparative Advantage, economist Bela Balassa developed an index for identifying where the comparative advantage of industrial countries lay in regard to their trade with one another.

Comparative advantage basically means one country can produce a particular good at a lower opportunity cost than another, which doesn’t necessarily mean at a lower absolute cost. The revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index is a useful tool that cuts out the laborious work of trying to assess all the factors that might determine comparative advantage but still captures relative costs and differences in non-price factors. Here’s how it works.

The Power of One

A country’s RCA in a certain class of goods is calculated by dividing the proportion of the country’s exports in that class by the proportion of world exports in that class. If the resulting RCA is greater than one, then a comparative advantage has been discovered. If it is less than one, the country is said to have a comparative disadvantage in that class of good.

The RCA is therefore useful in identifying areas where large gains from trade are possible but currently untapped. If one country’s RCA in a product is below one and another’s is above one this may be a potentially lucrative pairing.

Furthermore, if the country whose RCA is below one has either tariff or non-tariff barriers on that good and is importing from an inefficient source or producing for its own consumption, there is even greater potential for benefit.

The U.S.-Brazil Trade Relationship Revealed

Applying the RCA method to the U.S.-Brazil trading relationship in 20 sectors, the relative strengths and weaknesses of the United States and Brazil are complementary in 11 of them. There are only three categories in which both countries have RCAs higher than one, in which they would compete head to head.

For Brazil, export gains could be made in minerals, animals, food products, hides and skins, metals and raw materials such as alloys and iron ores, all sectors where Brazil has a high revealed comparative advantage compared to the United States. The United States has a revealed comparative advantage in exporting capital goods, chemicals, miscellaneous goods, plastics, rubber and transportation.

US-Brazil revealed competitive advantage RCA

Classic Trade: More Sales and More Savings

When it comes to importing raw materials from Brazil, the United States already has zero or low tariff rates in most categories, but there are some products where demand is high, but tariffs remain, creating opportunities for savings for U.S. consumers. For example, U.S. tariffs on building materials such as cut stone and shaped wood range from 3.2 to 4.9 percent. The United States does not have a comparative advantage in these materials and currently imports 24 percent of its building stone and 30 percent of its shaped wood needs from Brazil.

Tariff savings may also shift consumer purchases in Brazil’s favour. For example, Brazil enjoys a comparative advantage over the United States in coffee (we don’t produce it except some specialty in Hawaii). At present, 50 percent of U.S. imported coffee comes from countries we have an FTA with including Colombia and Guatemala, so Brazil would be well poised to increase its share of U.S. coffee imports under an FTA.

The products the United States has a revealed comparative advantage in compared to Brazil are more diverse, from capital goods to chemicals. Brazil’s lowest weighted average tariff among the good represented on the chart is 6.24 percent for chemicals; the highest is 21.01 percent in transportation. Reducing tariffs on U.S. industrial and agricultural goods would benefit both Brazilian importers and U.S. exporters.

A U.S.-Brazil FTA Could Be Positive

Overall, these numbers suggest a high complementarity in revealed comparative advantages between the United States and Brazil such that removing barriers to cross border trade in goods and services between the United States and Brazil has the potential yield gains for both sides, with increased trade flows both ways.

If only negotiating a trade agreement were as easy as following the numbers. The United States has a number of pension and tax reforms it would like Brazil to enact before getting serious about an FTA, and Brazil is a member of MERCOSUR, a South American trading bloc that precludes members from negotiating tariffs on an individual country basis. And so, the two countries will continue to nibble at the margins of an agreement, achieving “free-er” trade where possible, but when they are ready, the comparative advantages are now revealed.

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Alice Calder

Alice Calder is a program manager at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Prior to this she worked as a graduate research assistant while pursuing her MA in Applied Economics at GMU. Originally from the UK, where she received her BA in Philosophy and Political Economy from the University of Exeter, living and working internationally sparked her interest in trade issues as well as the intersection of economics and culture.

This article originally appeared on TradeVistas.org. Republished with permission.