Cost of shipping food supplies to Kuwait ‘increases 10 times’

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Govt must reconsider its decision: Al-Baijan

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 3: Kuwaiti Federation of Food Traders and Manufacturers Chairperson Abdullah Al-Baijan revealed that the cost of shipping food supplies to Kuwait has increased 10 times — from $1,400 to $14,000 per ton; while the prices of raw materials are unreasonably high, reports Al-Anba daily. In an exclusive statement to the daily, Al-Baijan pointed out that most of the raw material companies sold all their products for 2022 in advance due to the mutations of the coronavirus and continuous suspension of the operations of factories.

Example
Citing as an example the cooking oil, Al-Baijan said: “In 2020 and late 2021, we purchased cooking oil at a price of $900 per ton; but now the price ranges from $2,400 to $2,600 per ton.” He added the prices of some raw materials for manufacturing consumer products have increased remarkably; calling on the ministries of Commerce, Industry and Finance to study the experience of neighboring countries in reducing the shipping tariffs and fees for local services such as warehouses, ports and customs.

He stressed that Kuwaiti merchants and manufacturers do not have the ability to determine the price of the commodity, as it is determined according to the prices of commodities in the foreign market. He asserted the government must reconsider its decision to specify the prices of commodities based on the precorona prices, emphasizing the need to set prices based on current global rates. He added the Ministry of Commerce is aware of these rates, especially since most food products are imported through the catering company.

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