Trade Ministry allays fears of food shortage amid Russia-Ukraine crisis

AMMAN — As the Russia-Ukraine crisis unfolds, food security fears and uncertainty has increased among many in Jordan and the world, according to experts. 

Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Nael Kabariti on Sunday told The Jordan Times that there were global price hikes before the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, however, the conflict between the countries has negatively impacted global supply chains. 

Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of wheat, as well as many other products, he said. 

“People in Jordan are flocking to supermarkets and stockpiling food in their homes for no apparent reason,” he added.

There has been a sharp increase in global food prices; so therefore, further price hikes are expected in the Kingdom, according to Kabariti, who noted that the Kingdom’s wheat storage is sufficient for around 15 months. 

Industry Ministry Spokesperson Yanal Barmawi told The Jordan Times that the ministry “has taken further measures to ensure the Kingdom’s strategic stockpiles are enhanced”.

The Kingdom imports barley and wheat mainly from the US, Romania and other countries, so the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis “will not significantly affect Jordan”, he said, adding that “as always the government will continue to provide bread subsidies”.

The ministry set a price ceiling for certain commodities, such as sunflower oil, to avoid excessive price hikes, Barmawi added. 

Mahmoud Al Moghrabi, the owner of a supermarket chain in the Kingdom, said that the ongoing crisis in Ukraine “cannot be overlooked, because it has significantly impacted consumer behaviour”.

“The invasion in Ukraine has created uncertainty and a sense of panic in people,” Moghrabi added. 

Waleed Ali, a supermarket owner, told The Jordan Times on Saturday that many customers are buying canned food, sunflower oil, rice and wheat. He said that the prices of various foodstuffs have risen in some stores.

Salma Omar, a Jordanian citizen, told The Jordan Times on Saturday that: “The other day I went grocery shopping and the prices were up even for dairy products.” 

She added that lately she has been checking Industry Ministry’s pages to understand the price ceilings implemented for certain products.