At least three mega-dairy companies have recently raised the prices of fresh and long-life milk by up to 50 percent, a local daily reported.

According to the paper, a carton of 200-ml packs, which was earlier sold at SR16, is currently sold at SR22, an increase of 37.5 percent.

At retail prices, a single pack is sold at SR1.5 instead of the earlier SR1, the paper said.

Similarly, the cost of a one-liter pack has jumped from SR45 to SR51 in many supermarkets and mini-markets in Jeddah, the paper said.

Several citizens have called on the Ministry of Commence and Industry to immediately intervene and curb the increase in milk prices, which they said is unjustified, especially in light of the stability of fodder prices and the availability of production input.

They said dairy companies had earlier decreased the size of packs and have now hiked prices without warning.

Saudi companies own 60 percent of the GCC dairy market. In fact, Saudi companies export 20 to 30 percent of their fresh and long-life dairy products to GCC markets at revenues exceeding SR2 billion ($533 million), the paper said.

Saudi investments in the dairy industry is worth SR15 billion.

Some eight companies have been active in the Saudi market, four of which are considered mega firms regionally, the paper said.