Egypt’s supply ministry decided to raise the price of subsidized sugar by 40 percent from EGP 5 to EGP 7 per kg as of Tuesday amid a sugar shortage, a ministry official said. The official, who chose to remain anonymous, told Aswat Masriya that the ministry has decided to unify the price of sugar sold through ration cards, bread points and government-owned commercial chains to be EGP 7, which is also the market price. “The global rise in sugar prices and the decision by traders to halt imports are the reasons behind the decision to increase the price of sugar,” the official said. In the past weeks, severe sugar shortages hit the Egyptian market prompting talk of a crisis and pushing the state to rapidly increase imports despite an acute dollar shortage and soaring global prices of the sweetener. The price of one kilogram of sugar reached between EGP 9-10 in some outlets instead of EGP 5 before the crisis. Supply Minister Mohamed Ali al-Sheikh had issued a decision mid-October, obligating outlets to provide sugar for citizens at EGP 6 per kg, but kept the subsidized sugar at the price of EGP…
Egypt’s Supply Ministry Raises Subsidized Sugar Prices by 40% Amid Shortage
November 1, 2016
