JEDDAH, 12 May 2008 — Saudi ports in Jeddah and Dammam received 1.56 million tons of rice during the past 16 months, according to Dr. Khaled A. Bubshait, president of the General Ports Authority. He said there was 58 percent increase in rice arrived at King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam and 42 percent at Jeddah Islamic Port during the last four months. He said GPA had no role in increasing prices of essential commodities in the Kingdom. “Unloading of shipments at our ports is completed at record time matching with international standards,” he told Al-Watan Arabic daily.