RIYADH: The value of Iranian fruit and vegetable imports in the Saudi market, affected by the current boycott on Iranian products, has been estimated at between 40 and 50 million riyals per year (between 9.8 and 12.3 million Euro), and investors have confirmed that they have stopped dealing with such goods in the wake of the Kingdom’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with Iran.
The member of the trade committee at the Jeddah Chamber and Deputy CEO, Mohammed Abdullah Sharbatly, said that the Kingdom imports fruits from 40 countries across the world and that it cannot be affected, in any form, by the boycott on Iranian products, which did not exceed 50 million riyals per year, pointing out that the Saudi market is characterised by its diversity and steady growth, which will bring an annual growth of more than 5%.
Mr Sharbatly consequently welcomed the decision to boycott Iranian products, including apples, watermelons, pomegranates, kiwis or pears. He pointed to the existence of a wide range of products in the Saudi market, with fruit imports coming from countries like South Africa, Egypt, Chile, the Philippines, Lebanon, India, Pakistan, France or the U.S., and that there is also great product diversity, with more than 200 varieties of fruits like bananas, apples and oranges, which account for about 40 percent of the fruit market.
