In an atmosphere of fear and caution, the markets of the cities in Syria are awaiting the effects of industrial gasoline’s increased prices and whether it will have positive repercussions in terms of price reduction. Raising the price of one liter of industrial gasoline to 1,700 Syrian pounds is conditional upon its availability. However, the new price might be another argument for some industrialists and traders to raise the prices of their products, therefore negatively impacting the markets.
Al-Watan visited some markets in Damascus to get the opinion of several sellers on the subject. Some expressed their fear of the materials’ increased prices as this would be a justification for some producers to raise their prices. They talked about the high prices of several materials such as cheese, milk, white meat, and eggs. Other sellers refused to give a statement.
Citizens, in turn, complained to al-Watan about the rise in the prices of many materials in the past few days. These increases are unacceptable, such as the increase in prices of cheese, dairy products, and vegetables like potatoes –which reached a record price of 28,000 Syrian pounds per kilo.
Read Also: Towards Ending Subsidies: Price Hikes on Industrial and Domestic Electricity in Syria
A few days ago, the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection has raised the price of industrial gasoline to 1700 Syrian pounds per liter after it previously was 650 Syrian pounds. This decision comes on the condition that the gasoline is provided at a price below the black market, which reaches 4000 Syrian pounds per liter. After this decision, Amr Salem, the Minister of Supply, published on his personal Facebook page saying that all industrial, commercial, and agricultural activities, alongside breeders of broilers and linen manufacturers, have been informed of the need to reduce the prices of their products due to their decreased cost of production.
Salem stressed that Consumer Protection Directorates will tighten the audit over the drop in prices on every local product that includes gasoline into its costs in the coming days.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
