The National Merchants Union has accused the trade ministry of preventing the Algerian consumers from benefitting from the discounts included in the latest measures decided by the government to limit oil and sugar prices in the wake of last January’s unrests.

•  Sugar prices witnessed an increase in the market passing from 90 Algerian Dinars per kilogram to 95 Algerian Dinars.

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• The Union’s criticism came after a suspicious disappearance of used to be consumed by the citizens to be replaced by sugar packed in colored plastic bags with the aim of gaining extra 5 Algerian dinars per kilogram at the expense of the helpless consumer.

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• This sudden scarcity of sugar coincided with the issue on March 24 of the executive decree that sets a limit to oil and sugar prices. The decree limited the profit margin to 8% for producers, 5% for wholesalers and importers and 10% for retailers.

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• The Union’s spokesman Al Hadj Tahar Boulenouar has indicated that the economic operators specialized in sugar production pack their product with their own label in their production units and channel it to the retailers, but they supply the other economic operators with 50 kilograms plain plastic bags used in the production of sodas and yogurts.

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