Local and imported rebar prices have yesterday gone down. The wholesale price of an imported rebar ton fell to LE 2900, and the local fell to LE 3235. Meanwhile, cement prices have been stabilized between LE 495 and LE 535 per ton. Ezz Al-Dekheila Group has announced its ex-factory price in March at LE 3050 per ton, Bishai at LE 3000, Mitad Helwan at LE 2959 and the Turkish rebar importers between LE 2800 and LE 2900. The local producers and traders were dismayed at Bishai Group announcing LE 2900 per imported ton. They said Bishai and Gamal el-Garhi are trying to control the local factories that produce 100,000 tons per month, as Garhi did to Al-Attiyah factory recently. Major-General Mohamed Abu Shadi, head of the Domestic Trade Department of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said the ministry is supervising the building material market so as to ensure free market mechanisms. He said 50 violations were detected in Qalyubia, Cairo, Giza and Six October, seizing 911 tons of cement that the traders did not have invoices for.
