Saudi Arabia bans Yemeni onions from entering its territory, and export trucks begin returning to the country (document)

The Saudi authorities have banned the entry of Yemeni onions into its territory, more than a month after stopping export trucks on the Saudi side of the Al-Wadiah border crossing.

A source working in the transportation sector said that the Saudi authorities informed suppliers and truck drivers to stop importing Yemeni onions, without giving reasons.

The source added that trucks loaded with onions began returning to Yemen after being stuck at the Saudi border crossing for more than a month.

This comes despite the announcement by a Yemeni government official on January 20 that Saudi authorities had agreed to resume fresh Yemeni agricultural and fish exports after a months-long ban.

No official statement has been issued by the Saudi authorities regarding the reasons for stopping the import of Yemeni products, and the Yemeni government has not commented on the problem or the steps intended to be taken to solve it.

Stopping onion exports to Saudi Arabia would cause Yemeni farmers huge losses.

Last November, a Yemeni government official, traders and exporters told Reuters that Saudi authorities had temporarily suspended the entry of fresh Yemeni fish, marine life and agricultural products into its territory since October, for health reasons due to the spread of cholera in Yemen.