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SINGAPORE: Singapore has started importing frozen shrimp from Saudi Arabia, a move that will set the stage for more food imports and exports between the two countries, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Wednesday (November 25).
“Before this, I think very few of us would have thought of importing shrimp from Saudi Arabia. It’s not something that comes to mind, ”he said, speaking on the sidelines of a visit to a Fairprice Xtra grocery store on VivoCity.
“But now that we know that this can be done, and that it can be done in a very price-competitive way, then we can explore with Saudi embassies and suppliers what other products (they) can offer.”
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In turn, these suppliers have seen products from Singapore and the region that they can bring back to Saudi Arabia, using the containers brought in by the ships, Chan said.
Adding Saudi Arabia to Singapore’s list of food sources is part of the island’s continuing drive towards diversifying food sources.
“(Having more sources) will give us many more options to be flexible when contingencies occur in different parts of the supply chain,” said Chan, who called supply management “a bit of art and science.”
Responding to a question about whether the carbon footprint of such imports is a consideration, he said: “For the average Singaporean, I think the most important thing is price and quality.
“And as we explore new supply lines, the surprising thing is that we have been able … to bring the products at a relatively similar price.”
A brand of shrimp imported from Saudi Arabia at NTUC FairPrice Xtra at VivoCity. (Photo: Cheryl Lin)
He added that the transport necessary for long distances is accounted for in the prices, so “if the market indicates that prices are still competitive, it means that (they) have taken care of all these things.”
Chan also said that the carbon footprint does not depend only on the distance and that the logistics system must “be examined in its entirety to see how to achieve economies of scale, keep the carbon footprint to a minimum and keep prices to a minimum.”
The Saudi brand Red Sea Shrimp is currently only available in NTUC FairPrice supermarkets.
However, its distributor, The Seafood Company, hopes to eventually expand sales to other chains as well.
The company said the shrimp have a better taste and texture because they are farmed in the Red Sea, which has a higher salinity compared to seawater from other parts of the world.
Calling the import a “success”, the company’s managing director, Kenneth Chia, said the company has brought in 60 tonnes of shrimp since launching the brand in Singapore three months ago.
It is on track to reach 120 tons in shipments by the end of the year, he added.
