Sugar price in Algeria rises ahead of Ramadan

Algerian wholesale traders and local producers of food products were surprised in recent days from a hike in sugar prices, since they expected these prices would go down by 30% following the enforcement of the EU – Algeria association agreement, reported the September 5 edition of Al-Khabar newspaper.

One of the wholesale merchants told the paper he expected the price of 1 kg of sugar will be AD45 ($0.64) in retailing marketing. With Ramadan month starting next month, the sugar price becomes crucial for local consumers, as Algerians fear that the rise in sugar prices will be followed by increases in prices of other basic foodstuff.

Sources in Algeria's biggest sugar producer, Sivital, attributed this hike to many factors, including trends in the world market, increase in transport fees and low level offer in local markets.