Kuwait imports all of its pharmaceutical needs. Though U.S. drugs and pharmaceutical products have a very good reputation in Kuwait, they represent a very small part of the market. U.S. pharmaceuticals producers should be warned, however, that Kuwait provides no legal protection for pharmaceuticals patents. In 1996, the Kuwait Ministry of Health registered two unauthorized copies of top selling patented products. This growing concern bolsters sales opportunities for U.S. pollution control equipment producers.
Corn oil is the preferred cooking oil in Kuwait and the other Gulf countries.
Consumption of corn oil is expected to increase steadily as the locally packed oil is offered at competitive prices. Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are other principal suppliers of corn oil to the Kuwaiti market. Also, more brands of U.S. chicken parts than in previous years are being offered in Kuwait at competitive prices. Brazil, Saudi Arabia, France and Denmark dominate the market for frozen whole chickens. The United States and Brazil dominate the market for chicken parts.