Several local vegetable shops in Jeddah dependent on these goods told Arab News on Friday that they are closely watching the Egyptian situation on television like many other people.
“We imported a fairly large quantities of Egyptian oranges, guava, strawberries, onions, lemons and sweet potatoes, however from the looks of things in Egypt, I do not expect these quantities to last for long,” said 55-year-old Abu Abdullah, a wholesaler in Jeddah.
“Events in Egypt came at no better time; work at Jeddah’s Islamic Seaport is almost at a dismal level because of Wednesday’s (Jan. 26) flooding. Also some city warehouses of wholesalers and importers situated in south Jeddah are still flooded.”
Hussain, a 35-year-old shopkeeper, said prices of Egyptian produce at the local vegetable wholesale market have risen 60 percent.
“We retailers tend to buy from suppliers in the market at cheaper prices, than we add only one or two riyals for profit,” he added. He said customers have been blaming local merchants for the price increases.
“Just a week ago, a box of Egyptian oranges would have fetched no more than SR18,” said a nearby customer. “Now I was told it is SR30. A box of Egyptian strawberries has pretty much doubled from SR15 to SR30. At some local supermarkets the price is even higher.”
The flood has added to the rise in prices too. The price of a box of tomatoes or cucumbers has risen to SR50 days after the catastrophe. Prices of Yemeni produces have also been affected. Recent news of rising food price worldwide is also raising concerns.
Despite the rising prices, wholesalers say they are not concerned about shortages.
“We still receive farm produce from other parts of the world such as Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and other places,” said 38-year-old wholesaler Abu Waheeb.
Some Saudis called for the authorities to monitor the market in order to avoid illegitimate local price manipulations.
