GCC import of fresh produce represents 54 percent of the total imports of the Middle East with $2.2 billion, recent statistics showed. In 2012, the UAE alone accounted for $1.145 billion of GCC's total fresh produce import, with Saudi Arabia at second place with $825 million and Kuwait third with $164 million. Oman, Qatar and Bahrain contributed $58 million, $57 million and, 43 million respectively.
The Middle East import of the fresh produce reached 4.1 percent from the total world imports in 2012 at $4.2 billion.
Import of fresh edible produce to the GCC have seen an upward trend which is attributed to the combination of the growing population in the region, increasing consumer demand for fresh ingredients and rising trend for healthy eating.
ifpinfo
3 November
