The Tunisian Ministry of Commerce has announced new ceiling prices for bananas as part of ongoing measures to reduce consumer pressure amid rising living costs.
Under the new decision, Egyptian bananas are capped at 5 dinars per kilogram (US$1.55), while bananas imported from other origins may not exceed 7 dinars per kilogram (US$2.17).
The ministry confirmed that control operations have been intensified across the country. Inspectors have seized shipments sold at higher prices through smuggling networks and informal markets. These confiscated stocks are being redistributed to official retail outlets at the regulated capped rates.
Bananas, like other key food items, have been subject to repeated government intervention in recent years. Since 2023, Tunisian authorities have introduced temporary price ceilings, launched emergency supply campaigns, and warned traders against exceeding official tariffs.
In March 2024, the import of additional quantities briefly helped stabilise prices at around 7.5 dinars per kilogram (US$2.33) after sharp fluctuations. Earlier interventions had already fixed ceilings at 5 dinars (US$1.55) during periods of high market tension.
For Tunisia, these steps are part of a broader strategy to contain inflation in basic commodities and respond to public concern over the cost of living. Similar measures have also been implemented in neighbouring Libya, where consumers face comparable challenges over the affordability of essential goods.
Source: LibyanExpress