"We do not have detailed information about what happened in Japan. Like others, we are following what is happening there on media tools. We hope that the Japanese soon overcome their problems caused by the tsunami," he said.

A number of economists, however, did not believe that the Japanese tsunami would have an adverse effects either on the on the availability of Japanese goods or their prices in the Kingdom.

A number of Japanese car dealers said the stoppage of car productions in Japan for few days following the earthquakes would not affect the Saudi market.

"There is sufficient stock of Japanese cars in the Kingdom which will meet the demand," the dealers said denying any intention to raise prices.

The chairman of the committee that oversees issue pertaining to clothes and ready-made garments at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Muhammad Sultan Al-Shihri, did not agree with the car dealers and other importers of Japanese goods. He said he believed that the tsunami would result in a rise in the prices of Japanese clothes, especially in the wholesale market.

He said the Japanese clothes witnessed a sudden rise over the past two days. He expected the increase in prices to continue with the rising demand for Japanese clothes with the weddings season and Ramadan only few months away.