Shops, commercial markets and malls in Jeddah are crowded these days with shoppers seeking to buy winter clothes in particular, to stave off the seasonal cold.

According to merchants, revenues of the trade amount to more than SR4 billion and prices of wool, garments and jackets, ranged between SR120 and SR300 while prices of fur jackets reached up to SR300.

Mohammad Al-Qarri, a shop owner, said his daily revenues have increased twofold since the winter season settled in.

He said clothes price increase during the winter because of wholesale stores and chains. “Retailers make a small profit when selling a piece, in many cases the price of one item does not exceed SR25,” he said.

Muhammad Al-Shehri of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) said the winter season forced many people to buy more winter clothes. Imports of winter clothes to the Kingdom account for 30 percent of the total imports of garments and clothes during the year, with children’s winter garments increased by 60 percent, with revenues for retailers amounting to SR3 billion.

“Last week recorded an increase in the orders of suppliers in the north and south of the Kingdom on winter clothes for all age categories and both sexes. Such clothes and garments are imported from China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Egypt and Turkey. The average price of one piece of garment amounted to SR45. If the cold front continues at the same pace, demand for winter clothes will continue to increase which in turn will lead to the increase of prices,” Al-Shehri said.

Khaled Yahya Mohammad, a clothes merchant, said the markets are witnessing some activity with the beginning of the winter season. His colleague Mansour Baker argued that fur jackets have already registered an increase in their sales.

“The price of a ‘Made-in China’ fur jacket is SR100, a Syrian one between SR140 and SR180, while national fur is priced between SR130 and SR170. Fur jackets for children are priced at SR60 and women’s at SR200,” said Baker.