The Director-General of Regulation and Market Organization at the Ministry of Commerce, Sami Koli, indicated that the shortages of widely consumed products were due to several factors, including the increase in freight, the dinar exchange rate, the availability of containers, which has prompted consumers at the national level to adapt their behavior.
Invited this Monday, January 10, 2022, on the airwaves of the radio channel I, Sami Koli indicated that the services of the ministry observe these pressures on prices at the beginning of the year and before the month of Ramadan.
The same official refuted any explanation linked to the shortage or total disruption of supply. Mr. Koli prefers rather speak of a lack linked to an imbalance between supply and demand.
To this is added, according to him, speculation and excessive storage of these widely consumed food products.
Asked about the shortage of edible oil, Sami Koli explained at the outset that the priority of the ministry is to ensure a regular supply of the market.
Supporting figures, the same official indicated that from January 4 to 9, 12,941, 65 tonnes of edible oil, or more than 13 million liters, were put on the market.
He also underlined that two economic operators, in Oran and Annaba, have invested in the production of the raw material for edible oil, which has made it possible to meet more than 60% of demand.
Mr. Koli indicated that six economic operators have invested in the refining of the raw material to produce edible oil.
He preferred to speak of disturbances which he explains by the smuggling of edible oil to neighboring countries.
Regarding the storage of the raw material, in particular at the level of the two economic operators, it is estimated at 26,400 tonnes or the equivalent of 25,344 tonnes of edible oil.
Sami Koli revealed that the control services, in collaboration with the security services, recorded until Monday 3,378 interventions to fight against speculation on edible oil, which made it possible to draw up 34 reports against Speculators, and 4 operators saw their supply suspended.
He also revealed commercial transactions without invoices exceeding 80 million dinars.
