Amman: Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Eng. Ya'rub Qudah, affirmed the Kingdom's "readiness" to meet the needs of the domestic market during the month of Ramadan and ensure price stability and availability of essential goods in "sufficient" quantities, within the framework of integrated monitoring and operational plans.
According to Jordan News Agency, during a meeting held on Wednesday to discuss the Ramadan plan with various stakeholders in the local market, Qudah stated the ministry will "continuously" monitor, in coordination with relevant authorities, any difficulties facing the production and import sectors, as part of its joint monitoring plan to regulate the market, price levels, and the availability of goods.
The minister added that the government has suspended export of several essential goods for the past six months, except with special approvals, to ensure the stability of the local market. He further noted that the strategic reserve is "updated daily and exceeds the required level, making it secure."
On the reasonable pricing system in the Kingdom, Qudah explained that any global price hike may be reflected locally but will not be allowed to exceed normal levels. He mentioned that the Cabinet had decided to allow the Civil Service Consumer Corporation to operate outside official working hours to meet consumer needs, adding that its stock allows it to sell at moderate prices even in the event of global price increases.
In turn, the Ministry's Secretary-General, Dana Zoubi, confirmed that the strategic stock of various food items is "secure," indicating that the prices of 90 essential commodities are being monitored and tracked. Zoubi referred to a drop in the prices of 10 items by 11%, compared to slight increases in some commodities such as sunflower oil by 3% due to global price increases, while prices of more than 60 items have remained "stable," adding that coordination is underway with all relevant parties to ensure availability of goods.
Additionally, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Muhammad Hiari, provided details on the stock levels of essential meats. He noted that the monthly need for lamb is 3,000 tons, rising to about 4,000 tons during Ramadan, with a current stock sufficient to cover 5,500 tons. For veal, the monthly demand is 3,750 tons, rising to 4,600 tons during Ramadan, with a monthly stock of approximately 6,000 tons. Regarding poultry, he stated that the monthly need is 28,000 tons, rising to 33,000 tons during Ramadan, while the current stock is around 37,000 tons.