mage for illustrative purpose. Employees of state-run food company EMAPA arrange bags of sugar for sale in La Paz January 7, 2011. Reuters
London/Abu Dhabi - Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain severed ties with Qatar on Monday
Published: Mon 5 Jun 2017, 6:06 PM
Updated: Sun 16 Feb 2020, 10:22 PM
The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have stopped exports of white sugar to Qatar after the two states broke off relations with Doha, in the first sign that the diplomatic crisis is hitting food trade, trade sources said on Monday.
Qatar is dependent on the UAE and Saudi Arabia for its white sugar imports, which are estimated at less than 100,000 tonnes annually. Consumption is higher during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is currently being observed.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain severed ties with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting terrorism and opening up the worst rift in years among some of the most powerful states in the Arab world.