Egypt Plans to Raise Ration Card Commodity Prices

Egypt plans to gradually increase the price of basic commodities distributed through ration cards in the coming period, according to the country’s supply minister.

“The hike of subsidized commodities prices distributed through ration cards now force us to review the prices or otherwise the government will not be able to fund or provide these commodities,” Supply Minister Ali El-Mosilhy said at a press conference in Cairo. He added that the review process would start in the coming days.

The government has deliberately reduced the stocks of some items such as wheat and vegetable oils that are imported from abroad, for shorter periods ranging between three months and six months, as a result of high inflation and a dollar shortage, El-Mosilhy said.