Doha, Dec 2: Severe shortage of eggs in the local markets has forced wholesale dealers to import huge quantity of expensive Brazilian eggs, market sources told The Peninsula.

The Brazilian eggs were available in Qatar a couple of years ago. However, due to its higher price, there were not many takers for it that finally forced the dealers to stop importing them. Now, with almost one month after Qatar imposing a ban on the import of poultry products from Saudi Arabia, retail dealers are running short of supply and the price of eggs has gone up by 50 to 60 per cent in the retail market.

"Local eggs have been short in supply ever since the ban on Saudi poultry products. Now, almost one week has been elapsed since we got local eggs. This has forced us to import the costly Brazilian eggs", the purchasing officer of Doha's leading super market told this paper.

The price of Qatari eggs has gone up to QR230-QR250 per carton, Brazilian eggs have become a little bit cheaper than the local eggs. Again, with the supply of local stuff becoming erratic, we can no longer rely on them, he said.

Enquires with another leading supermarket revealed that they were compelled to import the Brazilian stuff, after their local supplier had failed to take the order for six days. "We were virtually running out of stock for last one week. Now, with Brazilian companies promising sufficient quantity of eggs, we hope the market would be steady at least for a month" said its purchasing manager.

Gafoor, a wholesale supplier of local eggs in Doha, said that the market is facing acute shortage of local eggs and for want of sufficient production. Due to the shortage he has stopped supplying eggs to almost 60 per cent of his clients.  The wholesale dealers are selling one carton of Brazilian eggs for QR210. However, the stuff is yet to reach in the small and medium super markets, where the customers will have to pay a further higher price.

Eateries which had pulled out egg dishes from their daily menu after the initial hike in egg price, have resumed serving the dishes, but with a higher charge.