Brazil’s Pará eyes live buffalo exports to Morocco

OX Commerce, a Brazilian company specializing in live cattle exports, is in discussions to ship live buffaloes to Morocco, an Arab nation in North Africa. The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock recently announced the opening of the Moroccan market to live buffaloes from Brazil for slaughter. Seiji Kuroda, Export Manager at OX Commerce, provided information on the ongoing talks with Morocco to ANBA.

The company, based in Paragominas, Pará state, was established in February with a focus on cattle exports. Most of the buffalo exports would come from Brazil's second-largest cattle herd in Pará, which is primarily Nelore breed cattle. Morocco already receives live cattle exports from OX Commerce, which are butchered according to Islamic rules to produce halal meat suitable for Muslim consumption.

The Moroccans then sell the meat for consumption by Muslims. Kuroda stated that the Moroccans showed interest in live buffaloes through the same contacts they have for live cattle exports. He believes the talks are recent and anticipates Brazil's buffalo exports to Morocco will increase once the market opens. OX Commerce approached Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to open the Moroccan market for live buffaloes, initially through contact with Brazil's agricultural attaché in Morocco, Ellen Laurindo.

Both the attaché and the ministry support Brazilian companies, according to Kuroda. Pará state in Brazil has the largest buffalo herd, with around 700,000 buffaloes last year. Buffalo meat and milk are mainly produced on Marajó Island for meat and dairy production, which is also used to make buffalo cheese.