Reuters: Libya food and Cereals imports fall.

London, 2 August 2015 (Lana) There no signs of food shortages in Libya so far, but some prices are rising due to higher insurance costs or more expensive overland deliveries via neighboring countries, according to report by Reuters. Imports of food, including wheat, are dropping sharply to Libya, as foreign shippers run scared of making direct deliveries due to worsening security situation in the country, the report published on July 31 said. It indicated that warplanes belonging to Hafter forces based in the east, have bombed several commercial ports held by rivals and also attacked ships they say were servicing them, although the ship owners dispute this. This have led to higher price of food imports and scarcity of stocks especially in the city of Benghazi, the report said. The risks are now so high ship owners should contact their insurers before each trip, Reuters quoted Jonathan Moss, head of transport with law firm DWF, who acts for insurers as saying. "Security advice to ships calling at ports in Libya may change from day to day," he said. "Vessels transiting through the Mediterranean are advised to remain clear of Libyan waters." 'Port data on Reuters Eikon showed imports of wheat into Libya slid to 37,898 tonnes in June, down from 88,597 tonnes in May and 144,556 tonnes in February.' Deliveries have also slowed of white sugar, of which Libya has consumed between 230,000 and 250,000 tonnes in Libya in recent years, the report added. Libya, the highest per capita consumer of bread, the annual wheat imports should average between 1.7 million to 2.1 million tonnes and it is not clear whether they will meet their needs at the moment, the report concluded. =Lana=