The Saudi ministry of commerce recently lifted a temporary ban on meat imports from Sudan, reported Al-Watan. Other Gulf and Arab countries have recently lifted a similar ban from the African country, whose hard currency earnings from livestock come second only to oil exports.
The embargo, imposed last March following the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever, cost Sudan millions of dollars in 2001. Sudan had hoped to increase its animal exports to $200 million by the end of 2000, but the ban on chilled, frozen and canned meats had a damaging effect on local exporters, said Arab News.
Saudi Arabia's beef market, estimated to be worth SR 1.5 billion a year, imports about two-thirds of its beef, put at over 100,000 tons annually. The Saudi market absorbs 80 percent of the total Sudanese meat and livestock exports. Sudan’s livestock amounts to 121 million heads of cows, sheep and camels, compared with the 12 million heads grown in Saudi Arabia. — (menareport.com)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
