Factories in the region of Arapongas, in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná, participated
in the furniture fair Index in 2012. Based on the contacts made, they forecast an 8% increase in shipments during the first semester of this year.
Omar Nasser, from Fiep*
Curitiba – The 19 factories that make up the Consortium of Furniture Exports (Conex) from Arapongas, in the north of the state of Paraná, in the southern region of Brazil, expect an increase in 8% in their external sales up to the end of the first semester, which means an additional revenue of US$ 500,000. The expansion is a direct result of the group’s participation in Index Dubai 2012, the international fair of furniture and decoration that took place in the United Arab Emirates at the end of last year.
Representatives from the companies of that region participated at the event, showing the visitors the furniture production from Arapongas and meeting potential buyers. During the fair 522 commercial contacts were made, with companies from 71 countries. Of these, ten contacts are becoming real business. One container has already been shipped to Zambia and another nine should leave the country before next July.
Another consequence of participating in Index Dubai 2012 are the visits from businessmen from the Middle East interested in the furniture production of Arapongas. “We recently received an importer from Lebanon who was interested in selling furniture to Sudan,” says Rajanand Albano da Costa, director-general at Conex. The companies of the consortium have a joint revenue of US$ 150 million per year and a production of 700,000 pieces, of which 250,000 are exported.
Costa sees great consumer potential in the Eastern market, especially amongst the Arab countries, both in retail as in wholesale. “It is a very strong market,” he observes. “There are big people there who buy and re-export.” According to the director-general at Conex, the racks, shelves and desks produced in the region of Arapongas should be the main products exported to the Middle East and North Africa.
The region of Arapongas is considered one of the greatest furniture producing hubs in Brazil. It concentrates 545 factories, responsible for a turnover that last year reached about US$ 400 million. Of this total, US$ 49 million were obtained in the foreign market. The hub generates 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.
