Car battery prices have increased by 20-30% over the last three months according to the brand and the country of origin, as costs have been affected by the increase in the US dollar exchange rate, according to Salem Gondia, owner of Rahma for Batteries Trading. Moreover, the price of lead, which is used in the manufacture of local brands, has increased. Local brands were among the most in demand batteries, owing to their competitive prices, followed by Saudi, Korean, and German brands. Gondia attributed the increase in the price of imported brands to the change in the US dollar exchange rate; moreover, the price of lead used in manufacturing the local brands increased, registering EGP 30 per kilogram compared to EGP 15 per kilogram three months earlier. He said that the most popular battery brands in Egypt are Korean, German, Saudi, and Egyptian brands, noting that a majority of the imported brands come with the name or the brand of the importer, not the name of the battery in its country of origin. Gondia also said that the price of Korean batteries increased by 20% in the past three months, raising the wholesale price of the "Ns 40" battery to EGP 390 compared to EGP 325. The "In 55" battery has also increased to EGP 445 compared to EGP 370, while the "Kd 70" has increased to EGP 485 compared to EGP 395. The "Din 66" increased to EGP 600 compared to EGP 520, while the "Din 88" registered EGP 700 compared to EGP 575. He said that the price of the "Din 100" batteries also increased from EGP 700 to EGP 840, while the "Kd 74" increased from EGP 535 to EGP 650. The "Ns 70" increased from EGP 425 three months earlier to EGP 514. Moreover, the price of "Ns 110" has increased to EGP 580 compared to EGP 480, while the "N 80" has increased to approximately EGP 630 compared to EGP 515. He said that the "N 90" batteries also increased, registering EGP 680 compared to EGP 550, while the "N 150" has increased to EGP 1,410 compared to EGP 1,130. The "N 200" has increased to EGP 1,680 compared to EGP 1,355, noting that these three batteries are used in trucks. Gondia said that these prices differ from one place to another by EGP 15-30, according to the place the product is sold in. Mahmoud Hegazy, owner of a batteries shop, said that that German and Saudi battery prices saw a 25% increase, impacted by the increase in the US dollar exchange rate. The German battery "Kd 70" reached EGP 560 compared to EGP 450 three months earlier, while the "N 80" reached EGP 720 compared to EGP 575. The price of the Saudi "Kd 70" has also increased, registering EGP 560 compared to EGP 450, while the price of the "N 80" increased to about EGP 720 compared to EGP 575. He noted that these are the popular brands and the most demanded among the owners of the private cars. Hegazy also said that the prices of locally manufactured batteries increased by 30% during the same period, with the "Ns 40" registering a wholesale price of EGP 335 compared to EGP 260. The price of the "In 55" also increased, amounting to EGP 415 compared to EGP 315, while the "Kd 70" increased to EGP 435 compared to EGP 325. The "Din 66" increased to EGP 500 compared to EGP 380, while the "Din 88" increased to EGP 580 compared to EGP 390. He continued, saying that the price of the "Din 100" registered EGP 640 compared to EGP 520, while the "Kd 74" registered EGP 540 compared to EGP 430. The "Ns 70" increased to EGP 465 compared to EGP 360 three months earlier. The price of the "Ns 110" has increased to EGP 520 compared to EGP 415 and the "N 8" has increased to EGP 535 compared to EGP 415. He noted also that the price of the "N 90" increased to EGP 570 compared to EGP 450, while the "N 150" has increased to EGP 1,310 compared to EGP 930. The "N 200" has increased also to EGP 1,660 compared to EGP 1,280. Hegazy said that imported batteries are dry, while locally manufactured batteries come in both dry and wet. He noted that damage in wet batteries occurs quickly, not because their quality is low, but because the high temperature of the engines in some cars, such as Nubira, Opel, Lanos, Lada, and Mercedes, which results in fast evaporation of the water in the batteries. As for the rest of the cars, both dry and wet batteries work well.
