Speaking at the Brazilian World Business Conference for Halal Products in São Paulo today, Vice-Minister of Agriculture of Brazil for Trade Relations, Flavio Petarello, said that his country, the world's largest exporter of food items such as coffee, beef and soybeans, was keen to increase its exports of agricultural products to Islamic countries.

Petarello told attendees that his country was in talks with Indonesia, Lebanon and Morocco to increase market access and sell agricultural products other than maize, beef, poultry and raw sugar.

Petarello added, "There's an interest in the types of products that are exported and the destinations (going)."

The 57 OIC States reportedly imported $190.5 billion worth of food, including wheat, maize, sugar, rice, milk and dairy products in 2020, according to data collected by the Brazilian Arab Chamber of Commerce.

The data showed that Brazil accounted for $14.1 billion of this figure.

Petarello said that almost half of Brazil's exports to OIC countries go to only five countries.

Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh were the largest importers.

Brazil would continue to pursue new market access and diversification of the products it sold, Petarello added, citing the benefits of a recent trade agreement with Egypt.

Referring to food exports, he said, "China is our main trading partner and our share of the Chinese market is 21 percent. We know that there is room for us to expand our participation in the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Islamic world. "

This move reflects Brazil's desire to increase its share in the global food trade.

Brazil already stands on the throne of the world's halal meat exporters and producers, including beef and chicken raised and slaughtered in accordance with Islamic terms and regulations.