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Santhosh Chandran
Doha
As the blockade against Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain lingers on, automobile spare parts dealers in the country are taking all measures to avoid any interruptions of supplies.
The dealers have started direct purchase from manufacturers as the regular routes, particularly from the UAE which serves as the main supply path, have been interrupted.
According to some retailers, establishing a direct supply line to the manufacturers is essential to avoid shortage of some spare parts, particularly battery and lubricants which are always in high demand.
Talking to Qatar Tribune, Muhammed, managing director of an automobile spare parts firm, said:"How can on justify the move of our 'brotherly countries' which stopped our consignments for which payments had been made in advance? More than profit and loss issue, it is a clear violation of business ethics. But, we will sort out the issue by dealing directly with manufacturers in Thailand, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia from where 80 percent of the parts come. We have already sealed the deal with them and consignments will start arriving in Qatar soon."
An official of Doha office of a leading Japan-based tyre manufacturer said they have been trying to reroute their shipments from Japan through Korea or Oman.
"We are trying to reroute our shipments that are scheduled to be delivered in Doha but embargoed at the UAE port because of unjustified reasons that may create shortage of specific sizes of tyres for few days. We believe that the supply chain will be reconnected without delay," an official of an authorised brand said.
According to some sources, direct purchase of automobile parts accounts for only 30 to 40 percent of the supplies in Qatar. As part of efforts to support one another, small and medium business firms have already initiated 'group purchasing' through which, they can afford the additional cost needed for logistics and transportation to promptly distribute the goods to Qatari market.
"We are planning to increase the direct purchase from 40 percent to 80-90 percent. Many of us have sealed the deal with manufacturing units. This move will also strengthen the market with quality products and meet the customers' satisfaction with attractive prices," said a manager of a spare parts shop in Industrial Area.
