Egyptian citrus

Fruit and vegetable prices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expected to increase as a result of the upheaval in Egypt, according to Emirates 24/7.

The news site quoted a variety of local traders who saidthat it has been almost a week since any consignment from Egypt arrived in the Emirates.

A spokesperson for UAE-based Fruits Garden Trading commented: “This is the season for Egyptian orange and strawberry. Normally it takes four to six days for a truck to reach Dubai. For almost a week now, trucks from Egypt have stopped coming to Dubai. This could push up prices further, as the Arab country is a major source of fruits and vegetables such as onions, beans, oranges, watermelons and strawberries. Among the southern Mediterranean countries, Egypt is the major producer of fresh fruits.”

“All road and air cargo from Egypt have stopped,” said Anil S Pillai, purchasing manager at juice manufacturer Barakat Quality Plus. “No ships are being loaded now.”