Prices of Ramadan Yameesh will see increase of 15-20% this year

CAIRO – 5 April 2018: The prices of Yameesh, the dates and nuts consumed during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, will see an increase of 15-20 percent this year, compared to last year, the spices division at the Cairo Chamber of Commerce said Thursday.

The division’s head Magdy Tawfik attributed the increase to the fact that the Yameesh is not categorized as an essential good, and therefore subjected to high custom tariffs.

He said that the wholesale price of Yameesh saw an increase of 15-20 percent and that the chamber has not yet decided on the selling price to customers.

Magdy said that other Ramadan goods will see an increase this year, such as raisins that will cost LE85-90, compared to LE 60-65 last year, Pistachio will cost LE 280-300 and Cashew nuts will cost LE 300.

Meanwhile, he said that these are preliminary prices that could change over the next few weeks.

Buying Yameesh is one of Ramadan’s traditions in Egypt. Imports of Yameesh have been hampered by the war in Syria, from where Egypt imports Yameesh.

The holy month of Ramadan is set to begin by mid May.