The authorities rejected a request by bottling plants for permission to export water to a neighboring Gulf country, Okaz newspaper reported. The Ministry of Commerce and Investment stressed that all water companies must adhere to the ban on selling bottled and non-bottled water and ice outside the Kingdom. In a letter sent to the Council of Saudi Chambers, the ministry stressed the need to create awareness among factory owners about regulations in the water sector. The council has circulated the letter among owners of all water plants and factories. An investor in the sector who wished to remain anonymous said there are nearly 180 water plants in the country and the majority of them export water due to low sales, which affected their profits especially due to the decline in demand for potable water during winter. He pointed out that nearly half the daily output of the plants is not sold during the winter season. He explained that the validity of bottled drinking water is one year and the stocks need to be disposed of within that duration. "The cost of water production includes the cost of bottles, lids and cartons, which means the plants need to export water to make up for loss in local demand, especially when lifting of subsidies on energy takes effect," he said.
