Ministry says no impact of Suez Canal shutdown on staples stockpile

shahennews

 The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply on Sunday assured that the Kingdom has a sufficient stockpile of basic foodstuffs that are enough to cover the Kingdom’s needs during the holy month of Ramadan and beyond, noting that large shipments of cargo arrived in the Kingdom before the shutdown of the Suez Canal.

Citing data by the Aqaba Company for Ports Operation and Management, the ministry indicated that most of Jordan-bound ships stranded in the Suez canal logjam are carrying cars and chemicals, noting that other ships are loaded with live sheep and calves, corn and soybeans, which are among the regular imports of the private sector and have no effect on the availability of commodities in local market.

The ministry also indicated that food imports have not stopped and they come from multiple sources, some of which come via land ports from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, including rice and sugar, while other imports come from southeast Asia and Australia via the Red Sea without having to pass through the Suez Canal.

With regard to red meats, the ministry said frozen meat shipments come by air freight, adding that the Kingdom already has a sufficient stock of meats.

The ministry affirmed that it is following up with traders, commerce chambers, and government stakeholders on the developments related to the Suez Canal shutdown, stressing that it is coordinating with competent bodies to speed up clearance of food imports.

In a related context, the ministry indicated that it continues to monitor markets, and it will take the necessary measures to ensure the continued availability of foodstuffs in sufficient quantities and to address any price hikes.

//Petra// WH