The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources (MAFWR) in Oman has announced that importers of selected agricultural products must register their consignments with the Agricultural Quarantine Department before arrival in the country.
The directive applies to various commodities, including cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, potatoes, onions, garlic, chili peppers, squash, lettuce, eggplant, zucchini, okra, cabbage, carrots, watermelon, beets, cauliflower, cantaloupe, honey, and dates.
The ministry stated that shipments arriving at Omani ports without prior registration will not be accepted and that it "will not bear responsibility for unregistered consignments." Importers must submit their applications via email to [email protected]
According to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Oman's imports of fruits and vegetables increased by 11.6% up to the end of May 2024, reaching US$286.2 million compared with US$256.3 million during the same period in 2023. Exports of fruits and vegetables during the same period were valued at US$35.2 million.
The total import volume of fruits and vegetables rose from 306.58 million kg in 2023 to 320.57 million kg in 2024, reflecting increased domestic demand and re-export activity. Vegetables recorded the strongest growth, with import value rising 44.9% to US$110.5 million by May 2024, up from US$76.2 million a year earlier. Import volumes increased from 139.66 million kg to 146.15 million kg.
India, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen remained the leading suppliers of vegetables to Oman during the reporting period.
Source: Muscat Daily
