Market watch: Food prices down and SSP stabilises versus the dollar
Most food prices in Juba’s major markets have slightly fallen for the second month in a row this year, although other items continue to fetch higher prices.
According to a market analysis conducted by The City Review in February and March, the majority of commodity prices nosedived, albeit by a tiny margin, while others have shot up.
In the past two months, a bag of 50kg of white sugar retailed at SSP28,000; a bag of 50kg of brown sugar cost SSP15,000, and a kilogramme cost SSP600 and SSP450, respectively.
But on April 1, a bag of 50kg of brown sugar dropped to SSP 19,000 while 25kg of sugar cost SSP 10,000. Prices have been significantly reduced in the last two months.
White sugar bags have been reduced from SSP28,000 to SSP22,000 for 50 kg and SSP11,000 for 25 kg.A kilogramme costs SSP400 and SSP500 for brown and white sugar, respectively.
In February and March, 50 kg of wheat flour cost SSP 16,000, while 50 kg of maize flour cost SSP 12,000.
Also, five litres of cooking oil cost SSP5,000, three litres cost between SSP3,000 and SSP2500, and 20 litres cost SSP13,000 in March and February 2022.
Meanwhile, a 50kg of wheat flour at SSP 13,000 as of this month, 30 kgs costs SSP 7,800 to 8,000, 10 kgs costs SSP 2,800 to 3,000, and a 50kg of maize flour is sold at SSP 10,000
The last study shows that a 20 litres of cooking oil costs between SSP19,000 and SSP20,000, and 10 and five litres cost SSP10,000 and SSP5,000, respectively. One kilogram of cooking oil costs SSP1,000, which is a bit higher compared to the previous months.
As of yesterday prices of other food commodities such as rice were sold at SSP 10,000, and 10kg cost SSP 6,500. Meanwhile, 25 kg and 10 kg of rice masiri were sold at SSP 6,500 to SSP 9,000 respectively.
A 50kg bag of beans cost SSP20,000, a 10kg bag cost SSP5,000, and a 1kg bag cost SSP500.
However, 50kg of white bean (Fashola) is retailed at SSP 38,000 and 1 kg is at SSP 1000.
One kilogramme of cow peas (yellow) retailed at SSP 800, and 20 kg and 10 kg cost SSP 7,500 and SSP 14,500, respectively. It remains one of the most expensive food commodities in the markets, where a kilogramme goes for SSP 1,000.
A dozen of Azams cost SSP 1,000, while individual pieces in some shops range from SSP 8000 to SSP 8,500. Meanwhile, coffee costs SSP 1,300 per kilogram.
The black-market exchange rate of the dollar has remained constant between SSP 40,000 and SSP 42,000 at $100.
One of Konyokonyo’s food wholesalers, Justin Toro, believes the prices will even dip more in the next few months.
“Although it is not yet what buyers expect, it is important to remember that hope for better things in the future is very important, so we hope things get better little by little.”
“The prices started climbing like this until they went higher, but we have seen it stop in one place for months and not go up, and now it drops slightly, but it never goes back up. It’s good for me,” said Justin.
The market report was conducted at Juba’s local markets of Custom, Konyokonyo, and Jebel markets.
