The imports of red meat and it’s Dynamic Response to majorfactors affecting it in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Despite the governmental support for the agricultural sector in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia to develop and improve local production of agricultural commodities, the ratio of self sufficiency for red meat has decreased. Red meat imports increased drastically with an annual rate of increase reaching 16% during 1971 – 1986. This study analysed red meat imports and the factors affecting them in the kingdom. An econometric model namely, logarithmic was used to estimate the demand for red meat imports in the kingdom. The dependent variable was the quantity of imported red meat and the explanatory variables were. Real price of imported red meat. Quantity of imported meat last year, real national income, population, and local production of red meat. Using a time series date (1986 – 1986) the regression results showed that 98% of the variations in the quantity of imported red meat can be explained by the five explanatory variables. The estimated price and income elastisies of demand for red meat imports were – 1,195 and 0. 777 in the short run and -2. 747 and the long run, respectively. The study showed that imports of live animals (beef cattel. Camels, and sheep) are the most common form of meat imports constituting 62% of the total red imports. Australia Turkey were the most important countries exporting red meat to the kingdom