Consumers confirmed that the prices of onions began to gradually decrease in a number of sales outlets yesterday, at a time when a group of "merchants and suppliers of vegetables and fruits in Dubai" revealed shipping 242 containers (container) to the state markets through the "Jebel Ali Port" loaded with onions, and includes between 25 And 30 tons of onions.
Consumers told «Emirates Today» that the decline in onion prices ranged between two and three dirhams, at a time when two officials in the two selling outposts excluded the return of prices to their previous levels, due to some restrictions by many countries, and high freight rates.
It is noteworthy that the prices of onion with its various varieties witnessed an increase exceeding eight dirhams per kilogram, compared to the price ranging between 1.9 and three dirhams previously.
Onion containers
In detail, the head of Dubai’s Group of Traders and Suppliers of Vegetables and Fruits, Mohammed Al Sharif, said that 242 container shipping containers (containerized) are currently being shipped and pumped to the state’s markets via “Jebel Ali Port” loaded with onions, imported from India, in preparation to supply them to local markets within the next two days. .
He emphasized that the first shipment, which included 58 containers, had already arrived and was unloaded, while work is being done to complete procedures and unload two shipments, each of which contains 92 containers, explaining that each container includes between 25 and 30 tons of onions.
Al-Sharif said that these shipments will end some limited and temporary price increases in the prices of onions that appeared during the last days, and to restore prices to their previous rates.
Coordinating process
Al-Sharif stated that the group has worked, through continuous coordination with the Ministry of Economy, and the relevant local departments, to increase the pumping of various commodities of vegetables and fruits in the markets, and is also working to implement plans in cooperation with the main supplier companies, to increase imports, and to diversify product alternatives from different countries, In a way that further supports the stability of commodity prices before Ramadan.
He added that the group and the supply companies coordinated with the Ministry of Economy regarding facing some challenges that faced import operations affected by the repercussions of the new Corona virus, which was reflected on import operations from some countries such as Spain, France, and Italy, stressing that these challenges were overcome by expanding with alternatives And importing from countries like Brazil, Argentina and other markets in Latin America, in addition to relying on importing from markets like Pakistan, Egypt and India.
Transportation cost
Al-Sharif mentioned that the challenges of spreading the Corona virus globally were reflected in the logistic services sector in shipping and transportation, especially maritime transport, as freight rates from a country like Ecuador and Brazil increased from about 500 to 1,000 dollars per container, and from countries like Egypt from 500 to 700 dollars For the container, then it declined in limited proportions during the past days, while it is expected to gradually return to its previous rates.
He stressed that companies supplying vegetables and fruits absorbed the effects of freight rates, and maintained the stability of commodity prices, according to their responsibility to maintain the abundance of supply in the markets.
He pointed out that some of the items that witnessed price increases, finally, will return to decline soon with the addition of additional quantities for commodities such as tomatoes, flower, lettuce, and eggplant, stressing that there is a flow in the processes of supply and daily pumping of markets, and to maintain the available stock in the local market.
He revealed that the stock during the past days in Dubai markets ranged between 80 thousand and 100 thousand tons, and work is being done continuously to maintain its availability.
Consumer reviews
In the context, consumer Hoda al-Maliki said that there was a decrease in the prices of onion items, which amounted to about three dirhams. She emphasized that the decline appeared in some major sales outlets, while prices in the shops for vegetables and small fruits remained unchanged.
In turn, consumer Ali Kamal said that there is a decrease of about two dirhams in onion prices, calling for tighter controls on the various sales outlets and taking deterrent measures against violators.
The consumer, Samir Al-Mulla, agreed that he had noticed a price decrease that ranged between two and three dirhams in onion prices, calling for an increase in the import of vegetable and fruit items, and taking deterrent measures against violating merchants.
Increased supply
Meanwhile, a sales executive at a sales outlet, Jamsheer Dylan, said that increased supply has had a major role in lowering onion prices.
He expected prices to witness a gradual decline in large and small outlets, after the new quantities arrived in the markets, but he ruled out the return of prices to their previous rates, due to some restrictions by many countries and high freight rates.
For his part, the sales official at another outlet, Ahmed Siddiqui, said that increasing the pace of importation leads to an increase in the supply, and thus lower prices.
He cautioned that the increase in supply and the unwillingness of consumers to buy in large quantities are major factors in keeping prices low.
Tightening control
The retail expert, Ibrahim Al-Bahr, called for tightening market controls, and said that the intervention of the authorities involved in facilitating import and supply of large quantities plays a role in lowering prices.
The sea confirmed that the rise in the prices of some vegetables and fruits is artificial, because some traders have previously stored quantities.
The Economy: A daily follow-up
The Ministry of Economy announced, yesterday, that it had taken urgent measures in coordination with suppliers and partners in foreign markets, to increase the volume of import of the onion commodity, after the commodity witnessed a recent rise in prices.
The ministry confirmed that the state's ports have received new shipments of onion commodity up to 1500 tons to support the supply in the markets, stressing that new shipments will arrive in the coming days.
The Ministry of Economy stressed that it follows the markets on a daily basis, monitors the supply and demand situation, and takes immediate measures necessary to ensure price stability and market discipline.