UAE takes the top spot among Brazilian clove buyers

In a dramatic realignment of Brazil's spice trade, the United Arab Emirates has vaulted seven positions to become the top destination for Brazilian cloves in 2025. The Middle Eastern nation, previously a modest buyer, has absorbed a significant portion of the supply, creating a new center of gravity for Brazilian exporters in this market.

The race

The scale of the shift is unprecedented for this commodity. In the previous year, 2024, the UAE ranked as the 8th largest partner, with exports totaling US$ 142,840. This represented a mere 4.8% of Brazil's total clove shipments.

By the close of 2025, the picture has been completely redrawn. Exports to the UAE skyrocketed to US$ 11,035,341, a remarkable 76-fold increase in FOB value. This surge handed the UAE the #1 spot with a dominant 38.3% market share. In a single year, one partner went from being a minor player to the most critical destination for an entire export category, displacing seven other countries in the ranking.

What this changes in practice

This rapid concentration of demand in a single market has immediate operational consequences for Brazilian producers and trading companies. With nearly 40% of the product now heading to one country, logistical and commercial strategies must adapt swiftly.

The UAE's role as a major global logistics hub, particularly through the port of Jebel Ali in Dubai, suggests that a portion of these cloves may be destined for re-export to other markets in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. For Brazilian exporters, this means that while the direct counterparty is in the UAE, the end-consumer could be in a different country altogether. This can affect requirements for packaging, labeling, and phytosanitary certificates.

Logistically, shipping routes will be reoriented toward the Arabian Gulf. This involves different carriers, transit times, and documentation compared to traditional shipments to Europe or North America. Exporters who previously relied on spot-market freight will now need to consider securing longer-term contracts with shipping lines that have reliable service to the region to ensure capacity.

Commercial terms may also evolve. Dealing with UAE-based trading houses and importers may involve different payment instruments, such as Letters of Credit issued by Middle Eastern banks, and a shift in preferred Incoterms that reflect the new shipping realities.

Looking ahead

Should this high level of demand from the UAE hold, the Brazilian clove sector will face a classic concentration risk. Over-reliance on a single buyer, however strong, makes exporters vulnerable to any sudden shifts in that specific market's demand or import policies. A downturn in the UAE's re-export business or a change in its sourcing strategy could have an outsized impact on Brazilian producers.

On the other hand, this solidifies Brazil's position as a key supplier to a vital global trade intersection. It provides an opportunity for Brazilian brands to build a strong reputation for quality and reliability in the Middle Eastern market. Competitor nations, such as Madagascar, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, will be watching closely. The diversion of such a large volume of Brazilian supply to a single destination may create openings for them in markets that Brazil previously served, potentially reshaping global trade flows for the spice in the coming years.

Source: MDIC ComexStat

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