Ex-Im Authorizes $900,000 in Export Insurance to Back Texas Small Business's Aircraft Sale in Brazil; Supports 135 Jobs in Texas
September 18, 2012
(Ex-Im Bank)
Washington, D.C.: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has
authorized credit insurance to support the export by Air Tractor Inc. of nearly
$900,000 worth of American-made crop-spraying aircraft to a biofuel and soybean
grower in Brazil.
This Bank-supported export sale is the 20th of approximately 40 similar deals
expected to benefit Air Tractor this year. The total body of export sales will
support 135 American jobs in Olney, Texas, both in production and in sales
management.
"We're glad to see Air Tractor — a small business in Texas — winning this sale
to Brazil, which is one of our nine key markets," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and
President Fred P. Hochberg. "This export transaction continues the long
relationship we have had with Air Tractor that helped them dramatically grow
their foreign sales while supporting American jobs."
Air Tractor employs 270 people to build its aircraft and custom equipment. Since
1972, the Air Tractor line has sold about 2,800 aircraft to buyers on six
continents. Over the past 17 years, Air Tractor has utilized Ex-Im Bank's
medium-term insurance to export an estimated $70 million worth of its aircraft,
primarily to small private-sector buyers in Argentina and Brazil. In 2009 and
2011, Air Tractor also obtained Bank-guaranteed working capital loans.
"The export finance products of Ex-Im Bank have been invaluable to Air Tractor
in supporting our growth in the international market over the last 15 years,"
said David Ickert, chief financial officer for Air Tractor. "We continue to look
to Ex-Im Bank for support as we expand our export sales in the future. The
Bank's products and hard-working employees are key to our export growth and job
creation."
The financing will support the export of Air Tractor's model AT-502B, a
single-engine turbo prop aircraft outfitted with a 500-gallon hopper that can be
utilized both to extinguish fires and to spray crops. The aircraft is
specifically adapted to operational conditions in Brazil's State of Mato
Grosso.
Taua Biodiesel Ltda, headquartered in Nova Mutum, Brazil, purchased the
medium-sized Air Tractor equipment for its agricultural operations. The Taua
group produces biodiesel fuel, vegetable oil, and soybean meal on 40,000 acres
now under cultivation. Taua plans to increase its operation to 100,000 hectares
by 2015.
Ex-Im Bank concentrates market development efforts in Brazil because of that
country's massive and growing consumer population, which welcomes goods stamped
"Made in USA." The Bank's exposure in Brazil as of the end of fiscal year 2011
amounted to $2.7 billion.
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