Karangwa Cassien, in charge of internal trading said that Covid-19 is the main reason for industrial products prices escalation. (Photo:Imvahonshya)

A year and two months has passed since the Covid-19 pandemic was spotted in Rwanda. After a few days Rwanda set the nationwide lockdown, stopping movements and causing the rise of food prices due to emptied stocks. The spread of Covid-19 pandemic is said to be the reason behind these price escalations on industrial products like Cooking oil, Soap, Sugar, flour, etc.

Since the invasion of the pandemic, industrial products prices have risen on the international market, especially in developing countries. In Rwanda the price of Sun Seed cooking oil rose up to 11%, with one liter going up to 2800 Rwf from 1700rwf in a single year. The price of a 25kg-sack of flour rose from 16000rwf to 19500rwf, growing 21%.

A bar of soap is now on 700rwf from 500rwf, growing to almost 40%, something that didn’t happen in the last 25 years. These prices are not the same in many parts of the country, like in south province and east province a single litre of oil costs 3000rwf while in the remaining parts it costs 2700 to 2800rwf.

The reason behind the escalation of these prices to some products generated disputes between sellers, with buyers not knowing the reason and sellers putting it all on Covid-19.

A businessman in Nyagatare who didn’t want his name to be stated said :“The cause is not clearly clear. COVID-19 prompted changes in purchasing prices, forcing us to change our prices for our benefits, without putting a burden to our clients”.

KARANGWA Cassien The director of internal trade in the ministry of Trade and Industry in Rwanda (MINICOM) talking to wazoplus.com, said that the escalation of prices on industrial products came from the reduction of workers in industries which caused the reduction in production.

He said “The rise of prices comes from different things, but the main reason is the Covid-19 pandemic that caused the highly industrial developed countries to reduce the number of workers in tackling the pandemic transmission. These caused some industries to stop working and others to reduce the number of workers and the production also reduced, so the products became insufficient on the international markets and became expensive.”

When asked if these prices will be back to normal in Rwanda, Karangwa said “There is no certain time that the price would be reduced but it will depend on the situation of the pandemic, and the people going back to work, the industries producing as it was before”.

Karangwa warned traders to not lean on the problem that Rwanda and the world are facing and squeeze the clients, with the pretext of expensive industrial products, and that whoever will be caught in that mistake will be punished by the sector in charge.