The Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply stated that it purchased last year about two million tons of wheat and barley from various origins to meet local needs for these two essential items.
According to data released by the ministry today, Sunday, Jordan bought last year one million tons of wheat and about 920 thousand tons of barley from several countries as part of a long-standing hedging strategy for these commodities since Jordan produces only very modest amounts and relies on external markets to meet local consumption requirements.
The ministry confirmed that purchasing prices vary and are subject to the offers received under the tenders that are successively issued to buy more quantities according to a strategy to provide and enhance the strategic stock.
Jordan's monthly consumption of wheat is about 90 thousand tons and from barley about 80 thousand tons, where flour is provided at a subsidized price to bakeries to maintain price stability as part of the government's commitments to alleviate the burden on the citizens, and support is provided to sheep farmers through subsidies for barley and bran.
The ministry also confirmed that it has taken several measures to enhance food security in Jordan, the most important of which is issuing several tenders for purchasing, and increasing the storage capacity of wheat and barley to about 2.2 million tons through the construction of new containers in the Qatraneh area with a capacity of 500 thousand, and construction was completed last month. The sufficiency of Jordan's wheat stock is currently 10 months and barley 8 months.
Based on official data, Jordan has managed to maintain its stocks of locally produced and imported goods by facilitating import operations and supporting productive sectors, particularly the agricultural and industrial ones, as well as measures to increase the sufficiency of goods when there is a rise in market demand.
