SAO PAULO, March 3 (Reuters) - Brazilian beef exporters are worried about a potentially prolonged conflict in the Middle East, which is the destination of about 10% of Brazil's beef shipments, Roberto Perosa, head of Abiec, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday.

Perosa said Abiec companies estimate 30% to 40% of shipments also pass through the Middle East before reaching markets in Southeast Asia and China, making the situation extremely worrying.

"There is nothing we can do," he said by telephone. "It is out of our control."