Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008

Dubai: Residents are stocking non-basmati rice despite the increase in prices as food traders warn that the country will soon face a shortage in supply.

It was reported on Tuesday that food traders in the region predict that the current stock of Indian non-basmati rice in the UAE will not last beyond 10 days, much to the worry of customers.

"I have Egyptian rice three times a week, and the prices are going up on a regular basis. The price has shot up from Dh7.50 to Dh11.50 in the past month, and I am worried that the prices will continue to rise even further if there is a shortage. If the supply completely runs out, then I will have to resort to eating bread instead of rice if I do not stock up on it quickly," said Abdul Basid Bayoun, from Egypt.

Ban on exports

Customers have already been forced to change their eating habits as a result of India banning the exports of non-basmati rice to the UAE in March because of rising inflation, which in turn caused other rice producing countries to raise their prices.

"I used to eat basmati rice from India but then had to stop," said Habib Rahman, an Indian who is used to eating rice everyday. "I then switched my habits and now only eat Thai rice once a week and that has also become a burden because it is becoming more expensive."

In the past four months, basmati rice is not commonly seen anymore on the supermarket shelves as Pakistani rice exporters said they are reducing their exports from the UAE market as they are not getting the rate they demand.

The UAE Ministry of Economy has fixed the price of a 40kg bag at Dh140, well below the market price of Dh200 to Dh210.

"I think that the price of rice in general will increase, and find it highly unlikely that the supply of non-basmati rice will finish in 10 days," he said.

"I will certainly be affected if there is not enough supply of non-basmati rice and will have to buy as much as I can while the stocks last. The price has almost doubled in one month from Dh38 to Dh66 for 10kg of Thai rice, and I worry that the prices will rise even further once there is a shortage," said Mark Lu.

Lea Marcelo, from the Philippines, said that she was concerned whether she will have enough time to stock up on rice before they are all bought off the supermarket shelves.

"Everybody is worried about a rice shortage, and I have not yet stocked up. I eat rice twice a day and it is an important part of my diet because I do not think I will be able to change my eating habit."

By Mariam M. Al Serkal

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