Ramadan bourse

By Eman Youssef
Retailers of Ramadan commodities say that sales are high this year compared to last year. Only days prior to the beginning of Ramadan, some stores increased their prices on foods typically consumed during this festive month, seemingly on the assumption that consumers would inevitably purchase their goods before the start of the fast.
But consumers called the bluff of vendors peddling high priced goods in an action that seems to have had an impact. Ahmed Farahat, a dealer in traditional Ramadan yamish (nuts, dried figs, apricots and prunes) located in Heliopolis's Midan Al-Gami' says, "Prices have dropped 20 per cent compared to last year." To prove his point he explained that raisins sold at LE16 per kilogramme last year are now available for LE12; prices for prunes have dropped from LE18 to LE16 and shredded coconut, formerly sold at LE8, is now available for LE6. And finally, the king of Ramadan delicacies, Qamar Al-Din (sheets of dried pressed apricot) are being sold for LE7 per kilogramme compared to last year's price of LE9.
But staying within the same price range as last year are the all-important dried dates -- an item consumed mainly by the middle- and lower-income consumer. "This fruit, the most popular served in Ramadan, has continued to be priced between LE3 to 6 per kilogramme, depending on the variety," says Sayed Lutfi, a date merchant.
One product for which there have been no discounts is meat. Depending on the cut, prices generally range between LE10 to 25 per kilogramme, said Metwali Abdel-Dayem, a butcher. He added that prices vary slightly between districts.
If a family's Ramadan food budget is stretched by meat purchases, some of these expenditures may be recouped at the vegetable market. Explaining the decrease in prices of vegetables during the fasting month, Ibrahim Khalil, a fruit and vegetable vendor, noted that the brisk trade in vegetables, especially when compared with that in fruit, accounts for the drop in prices.
During the first week of Ramadan, tomatoes, once again at the popular market of Midan Al-Gami', were sold at LE1.50 per kilogramme compared to LE2 last year. At LE1, spinach is 25 piastres cheaper than last year while vegetable marrow has come down 50 piastres a kilogramme to be sold for LE1. A saving of 50 piastres compared to last year, can also be found on potatoes which were offered for LE2 last week.
No Ramadan meal would be complete without oriental pastries such as kunafa and atayif, and, according to pastry shop owner Farag Hussein, these desserts continue to register high sales at LE3 to 5 per kilogramme. Hussein said people from across the class spectrum are purchasing these baked goods.
Milk products, which are an important ingredient in both main course and dessert dishes, witnessed a price increase of about 10 per cent at private sector supermarkets to reach LE2 per litre of bottled milk and LE2.75 per litre of milk packaged in cartons.
Another star commodity during Ramadan is the imported lantern. These are available in a wide range of different colours and designs. "Many more battery-operated lanterns made in China are sold than locally made ones lit by candles. In the eyes of consumers, these have lost their lustre," said Bakr Abdel-Baqi, a lantern-seller.
Some vendors and consumers are looking beyond this Ramadan. Lutfi, a date merchant, said he expected that after the feverish spending on Ramadan commodities, which peaks each day just prior to and following iftar (the daily meal to break the fast), "there will be a stagnant [foodstuffs] market after Ramadan."
Taking advantage of the relatively low prices of dry goods, at least one shopper is already planning for next year. "I bought large quantities of yamish. As these do not perish easily, I intend to store them for next Ramadan," said Olfat Samir, a mother of three.
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