Food prices surge in Egypt ahead of further rise in summer

Surging prices of meat, poultry, vegetables, oil and sugar in Egypt have sparked public anger, a further rise in prices is expected in July to coincide with a scheduled increase in electricity prices.

Local meat prices increased to between 75 and 80 Egyptian pounds ($9.8-$10.5) and imported meat increased between two and 11 Egyptian pounds ($0.3-$1.4).

Vegetable prices have surged, mainly okra which increased to 29 Egyptian pounds ($3.8), tomatoes to ten Egyptian pounds ($1.3), peas to six Egyptian pounds ($0.8) and spinach to five Egyptian pounds ($0.6).

Chairman of the Grocery Division in Cairo Chamber of Commerce, Ahmad Yahya said: “The imposition of protection fees on sugar has contributed to an increase in its price to between 200 to 250 Egyptian pounds ($26.2-32.8) per tonne where the price of one kilogramme increased to 5.25 Egyptian pounds ($0.7); while poultry prices rose by about two Egyptian pounds per kilogramme to be sold at 22 Egyptian pounds ($2.9).”