Saudi food imports declined by 11.7 percent in April to1.06 million tons compared to 1.20 million tons in the same period last year, local media said.
On a quarterly basis, foodstuffs entering Saudi ports in Q1 of the current year reached 3.33 million tons compared to 3.09 million tons in the same period last year, or an increase of 8 percent, according to Al-Eqtisadiyah daily.
Meanwhile, as Saudi families prepare for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan when food demand increases, a number of traders in some parts of the Kingdom have raised prices of certain items such as tea, rice, cheese, and canned foods, the paper said.
On the other hand, workers in small-scale groceries have expressed concern over the considerable price hikes in certain basic commodities ranging from 13-30 percent.
They said they were facing a “fierce competition” with hypermarkets which are offering big discounts to customers.
Dr. Wasif Kabli, one of the food dealers in the western region, said citizens have to play a pivotal role in price controlling efforts by informing the Ministry of Commerce on any (unusual) changes in prices of commodities.
He attributed the recent food import cut to a number of reasons including the increase in food production, following the issuance of more licenses to set up new food plants in the Kingdom. The import of vegetables and fruits has dropped due to the political developments in some parts of the world whereas the departure of a huge number of expatriates has also lowered the rates of food consumption, he was quoted as saying.
Saudis curb food imports by 11.7% in April
