Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi date factories are set to begin receiving produce from farmers, of which 60% is delivered to local plants while the remaining 40% is sold directly to consumers, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Produce is expected at 1 million tonnes in 2017, while local plants’ production capacity is around 600,000 tonnes, the news agency added.
The Saudi capital of Riyadh has 67 date factories and receives funding of up to SAR 992 million, making it the largest date-producing region in the Kingdom, SPA cited Ismail bin Abdullah Al Shaya, the general manger of the administration for licensing and supervision under the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, as saying.
The Eastern Province comes in second with 28 factories and SAR 220 million in funding, while Al Qassim comes in third with 23 plants and SAR 313 million in financing, followed by Al Madinah with 16 date plants and SAR 115 million in funding, he added.
In 2016, Saudi Arabia’s date exports reached 136 tonnes worth SAR 584 million, registering a year-on-year increase of 20%.
