Over 200 traders promise affordable costs for Ramadan shopping relief

TDT | Manama

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Locked-in prices — at least on paper.

More than 200 traders have put their names to a pledge not to hike costs for Ramadan shoppers, easing pressure as shipping fees take a dive.

Businessmen say the shelves are packed, and watchdogs are keeping traders in check to stop anyone trying their luck with inflated prices.

Cargo

Goods are tipped to be cheaper by 10 to 20 per cent this month, thanks to a drop in shipping costs of up to half, depending on where the cargo’s coming from.

The Bahrain Chamber’s Food Sector Committee pulled traders together for a virtual meeting, where they agreed to hold prices steady.

Khalid Al Ameen, who heads the committee, believes this keeps the shelves full and wallets a little less battered. To avoid the usual scramble, stock was locked in well ahead of time.

Special deals

Retailers are already throwing out discounts, with more than 7,000 outlets going all-in on special deals.

The flow of fruit and vegetables is picking up, with more than 5,000 tonnes landing each day from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, India, and Pakistan.

Meat and poultry are well covered, while Bahrain Flour Mills has bags of flour and grains ready to roll.

Muslim Asad, vice chairman of the Food Wealth Committee, said cheaper shipping has already brought prices down.

Officials are keeping a close watch to make sure no one is bending the rules, with tighter checks and penalties for those who push their luck.

Traders are being leaned on to keep supplies steady, price guides have been set for key goods, and those caught hoarding or hiking rates face penalties.

Discounts

Retailers are being encouraged to run discounts where they can.

Former Shura Council member and businessman Darwish Al Manai said price controls keep markets from lurching out of control, stopping traders from squeezing customers.

But he warned against going too far — if prices are forced too low, suppliers could back off, leading to empty shelves.

Unsold stock

Push them too high, and the market gets jammed with unsold stock.

The key, he said, is balance. A steady hand on the tiller, regular checks, and proper penalties for those trying to rort the system.

At the end of the day, the best way to keep prices fair is to make sure the market stays in motion, with enough competition to keep everyone honest.