Consumers are expected to buy SR500 million worth of fruit and vegetables during the holy month of Ramadan, local media reported, quoting investors and importers.

Prices are expected to stabilize during the month because of the huge variety of products on the local market, dealers said.

Saifullah Sharbatali, an importer, said there may be some marginal spikes in prices. There would be more activity in the first week of Ramadan, he said.

He said the Kingdom is immune to major price fluctuations because it imports from a variety of sources and produces domestically.

The Kingdom imports from 40 countries including South Africa, Egypt, Chile, the Philippines, Lebanon, India, Pakistan, France and the United States, he said.

He said there are more than 200 types of fruit but bananas, apples and oranges make up 40 percent of the market. Demand is higher in certain seasons particularly Ramadan, when it goes up by 35 percent, he said.