The Ministry of Commerce has ordered the closure of more than a 100 automobile service centers in Jeddah over the past month, a source at the ministry told Arab News.

The move comes in the wake of several complaints that the price of engine oil has increased by 100 percent.

“There are more than 2,000 car service centers in Jeddah,” the source said. “We will conduct more inspection tours until we eradicate this sudden increase in prices.”

Ali Mubarak, a sales manager at one store, said that the price of oils is dependent on the brand and size of the container.

“We have Castrol, for example, which sells for SR270 for a pack of 12 containers of the 30-5 SW grade, which translates to SR22.5 per container, while grade 50-20 SW oil sells for SR280 for a box of 24 containers, which translates to SR11.5 per container,” he said.

Faisal Adam, sales manager at the Al-Amoudi establishment oil trading, blamed shopkeepers for the increase in prices.

“Wholesale prices garner a profit of SR5 per box, which is not a bad profit margin for us,” he said.

Several residents believe that Arab shopkeepers must have made a pact with their Saudi owners to make as much money as possible and have demanded that the Commerce Ministry clamp down on such practices.

Khaled Tawfiq, a citizen, said that one shopkeeper had asked for SR240 when he asked to have his oil changed.

“I was surprised, but he told me that the price of oil from the distributor had increased,” he said.