DOHA: Brazil exported 458 tonnes of beef to Qatar after a ban over the mad cow disease was lifted in March this year, Brazilian embassy’s Charge d’Affaires, Minister Joao Belloc, has said.
Speaking to Gulf Times, Belloc noted that the volume of meat that entered the country in four months represents $2.3mn in sales, citing figures from the Association of Brazilian Beef exporters.
“Brazilian beef was ‘reintroduced’ in Qatar in March after mutual diplomatic efforts to lift the embargo. The first containers of beef soon started to arrive in Doha,” he said.
Exports of Brazilian beef are also growing at a fast pace, according to Belloc, adding that residents can now easily find the Brazilian Picanha (a barbecue cut designed in Brazil) at the local supermarkets.
He expressed optimism that Brazil will regain its position in the Qatar market soon since the matter had been resolved. Brazil had been exporting a “considerable amount of beef to Qatar” before the ban was imposed.
“There is a quality that people recognise there,” Belloc added. “We have to regain some lost ground there when the moment we were not present in the market, I think that is something to come in the near future.”
Brazilian beef is known for its quality around the world. But due to one isolated case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (popularly known as mad cow disease) early in late 2012, some GCC countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, stopped importing beef from Brazil.
Late last year, Saudis lifted the ban but started importing Brazilian beef early this year followed by Qatar in March.
Besides beef, it is learnt that Brazil remains a major exporter of poultry to all GCC countries. In Qatar, the market share is around 70%, which forms a significant part of Brazil’s exports to Qatar.
With the resumption of Brazilian beef in the Qatar market, many residents are hoping for a fall in prices of such meat in supermarkets.
The lifting of the ban on Brazilian beef exports to the GCC is also expected to significantly help in strengthening trade relations between Brazil and countries in the region.
“As you know, Brazil was in a weakened economic situation over the last year. However, the economic data of the country already shows an optimistic dynamic,” Belloc said.
“Brazil is beginning to show again positive balances in its economy and hence import and export of more products are to rise.”
