Egypt Takes Control of Food Prices with New Measures and Successful Boycott Campaigns

The Egyptian government is exploring new measures to control the prices of various food items in the market. One such measure is extending a previous decision to exempt certain imported goods from customs taxes for three months. This includes goods like medicines, frozen poultry, dairy products, butter, sugar, pastries, oils, tea, and sugar.

Another initiative recently announced by the government aims to reduce the prices of essential commodities like beans, dairy products, oil, pasta, sugar, poultry products, eggs, and rice. The goal of this initiative is to speed up customs clearance, lower costs for manufacturers and merchants and provide customs facilities for frozen meat, dairy products and oils.

Meanwhile successful boycott campaigns in several Egyptian governorates have resulted in a significant decrease in fish prices after a significant increase. A campaign in Port Said led to a 50%-70% drop in prices for various types of fish including chub fish from 250 pounds per kilo to 100 pounds as well as reductions in prices for mullet tilapia pasta shrimp bream and whiting. The boycott campaign is set to continue until prices return to normal levels.