MIHAS trade fair sees deal and demand for coffee

São Paulo saw a significant event at the MIHAS trade fair in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where Brazilian company Milhão successfully sealed a sale and engaged in further business discussions. Fernanda Baltazar, the institutional relations director at the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), noted that many potential customers at the fair were specifically seeking Brazilian coffee, a product absent from this year's exhibitor lineup.

This highlights the demand for Brazilian coffee among the fair attendees, a product not currently represented among the exhibitors.

The Halal do Brasil project, which organized the joint booth at MIHAS, showcased various Brazilian products. Among these was Milhão, a producer of corn-based products; Pão e Arte, known for its breads including pão de queijo; food processor MBRF; and several halal certification bodies. Jurandir de Paula, the Senior Key Account Manager at Milhão, announced that he had closed a deal specifically due to the fair, emphasizing the importance of bringing their products and services to the market.

The company's products, such as corn pellets and biodegradable cat litter, made entirely from corn, showed strong demand. Cat litter is primarily used for sanitary purposes for cats, while corn pellets serve as pre-made snack pellets for the food industry.

De Paula pointed out that the variety of demand for Milhão's products depended on the potential buyer's sector, but this year's MIHAS was notably busier than previous events, allowing the company to connect with potential customers more effectively. Baltazar highlighted the significance of participating in the fair for Brazil's positioning within the halal market and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a free trade group of 11 countries.

She noted that Brazil's low representation in ASEAN makes its participation at MIHAS particularly advantageous.