RIYADH, 5 January — The Kingdom's frozen meat importers have blamed UAE manufacturers of meat products marketing banned Irish and Indian meat in Saudi Arabia in the form of finished products such as mincemeat and hamburger meat. Red meat from Ireland and India has recently been banned in Saudi Arabia.
The price of meat in the Kingdom is showing a rising trend at the rate of SR0.25 to SR1 per kilogram as a direct result of the expanding ban of meat imports from European countries following the spread of mad cow disease in Europe. This price increase is also attributed to the high price charged by the non-European sources of meat such as South Africa. The price of meat imported from China, Australia and Brazil are also high, according to a business man.
The sources also attributed the high price to the lack of export promotion policies by several exporting countries. The ban on European meat in some Middle Eastern countries resulting in increased pressure on non-European meat manufacturers is another factor leading to the price rise, the source said.
On the other hand, a top official of a meat importing company based in the Eastern Province denied reports of a price increase on imported meat. "No change has been made on the price pattern as we are waiting to see if the South African exporters are intending to increase prices. The price might have increased in that country because of the sudden high demand which in turn should have pushed up prices in its local market," he said.
The sources at the Irish Embassy in Riyadh said 70 shipments of meat, which were ordered by several Saudi importers, arrived at the local ports after the ban order was issued. Most of them belong to Americana. Discussion on the matter would be made when the government departments reopen after the Eid vacations, the source said.
Another company in the food sector said that two shiploads of frozen Irish meat which arrived in Dammam after the ban order are facing the risk of spoiling if they cross the 45 days deadline. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
