International
In West Bank, Pepsi and Coke bottlers face can and sugar shortage
JERUSALEM — PepsiCo and Coke bottlers in the West Bank are running out of cans and sugar, blocked by the prolonged closure of a Jordan border crossing, managers of two soda-bottling plants in the occupied Palestinian territory said. In the latest gl
JERUSALEM — PepsiCo and Coke bottlers in the West Bank are running out of cans and sugar, blocked by the prolonged closure of a Jordan border crossing, managers of two soda-bottling plants in the occupied Palestinian territory said.
In the latest global supply chain snarl due to the conflict in the Middle East, a crucial trade crossing at the Allenby bridge has been largely closed to commercial traffic since early September after a Jordanian gunman shot and killed three Israeli civilians.
Sugar and cans previously were transported to West Bank bottlers from Jordan via the bridge, according to Hatim Omari, manager of a plant that bottles Pepsi, 7UP and Mirinda for sale in the Palestinian territories and neighbouring countries.
The Pepsi facility, located in Jericho, ran out of materials for its canned soft drinks about 15 days ago, Omari said, and has not been able to get new shipments of cans or sugar for more than one month.
Its sugar came from Saudi Arabia, he said.
In the latest global supply chain snarl due to the conflict in the Middle East, a crucial trade crossing at the Allenby bridge has been largely closed to commercial traffic since early September after a Jordanian gunman shot and killed three Israeli civilians.
Sugar and cans previously were transported to West Bank bottlers from Jordan via the bridge, according to Hatim Omari, manager of a plant that bottles Pepsi, 7UP and Mirinda for sale in the Palestinian territories and neighbouring countries.
The Pepsi facility, located in Jericho, ran out of materials for its canned soft drinks about 15 days ago, Omari said, and has not been able to get new shipments of cans or sugar for more than one month.
Its sugar came from Saudi Arabia, he said.