The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recently noticed an increase or decrease in prices of some foodstuffs in comparison with end of the last year's figures. The increase included some brands of U.S. rice, sugar, dried milk and the decrease included some brands of Indian rice, vegetable oils, dried milk and flour. In a press statement, the Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashim bin Abdullah Yamani pointed out that the rise in prices of some foodstuffs in the Saudi markets are due to internal and external factors, including, among others, maritime freight wages, rise in Euro exchange and increase in prices from exporting countries. He noted that the Kingdom's markets are free and open and directly affected by changes of prices in the world markets.
