The demand for traditional Ramadan foodstuffs is up on last year, finds Eman Youssef Even before Ramadan began some retailers were hoping to cash in, raising the prices of typical Ramadan foodstuffs on the assumption that the market would absorb the price hikes. Thankfully, though, there were alternatives. The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has sponsored several exhibitions for food retailers with the largest, at the Cairo International Conference Centre, offering discounts of between 20-40 per cent on a range of foodstuffs including sugar, flour, yameesh and meat. Ragab El-Attar, head of the spices section at Cairo Chamber of Commerce, reports a drop in prices on dried fruits of "30-40 per cent compared to last year". Raisins sold for LE16 per kilogramme last year are now on offer at LE14; prunes have dropped from LE32 to LE24; shredded coconut is down from LE12 to LE8 and qamareddin -- sheets of dried pressed apricot -- are being sold for LE7 instead of LE9. Prices have fallen, says El-Attar, because of reduced customs duties and a stronger pound. Not all traditional Ramadan foods have been subject to this downward trend in prices. Pistachios are selling for up to LE90 a kilo, 30 per cent more than last year. Almonds have increased to LE75 from LE60, walnuts to LE60 from LE56. The price of nuts, explains El-Attar, has been adversely affected by the lower levels of production that followed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the inflationary effect of which El-Attar believes will continue for a year or more. Egypt imports the majority of yameesh ingredients -- this year valued at $80 million -- from the US, Iran, Turkey, Syria, India and Vietnam. To help traders cope with demand during Ramadan the Cairo Chamber of Commerce released a report before the holy month predicting a 25 per cent increase in consumption compared to other months. No Ramadan meal would be complete without oriental pastries such as kunafa and atayif which, according to pastry shop owner Amed Sameh, are selling at between LE3-5 per kilogramme. One shopper at least is taking advantage of the relatively low prices of dry goods this year. Mother of two Rania Osama is already stocking up for next Ramadan. "I bought large quantities of yameesh this year. They can be stored, and I'm keeping them for next year." There were 200 exhibitors at the Cairo International Conference Centre. "Commodities consumed during Ramadan are being offered here at discounts of up to 30 per cent compared to prices elsewhere," said Mona Abdel-Aziz, a housewife. The exhibitors cater to a largely middle class clientele eager to buy quality produce at lower prices. "The best thing about the fair is that prices are fixed and the goods are of a high quality," said Heba Youssef, who finds the items on offer of better quality than their equivalents sold at state-owned consumer cooperatives where they "may be cheaper but are not as good". Mohamed Mahmoud of Samo Trade Company, which specialises in importing yameesh, reports that business is booming thanks to events like the fair which makes preparing for Ramadan "much easier for consumers".
