Cement, soap price hikes to record levels

• 50 kg bag of cement up by Rs. 400 to Rs. 2,750
• Cement manufacturers and importers say price hike due to dollar shortage, supply chain constraints 
• Bar of laundry soap soars to Rs. 135, bar of body soap increases to Rs. 175
• Consumers fume as living itself has become extremely difficult 
• Warns people will soon resort to burglary 
• Vegetable traders claim on declined prices with no consumers to purchase following fuel hike

By Charumini de Silva

The prices of essential commodities such as cement, laundry and body soap has increased sharply, with the cost of living has soared to unbearable levels at present.

The price of a 50 kg bag of cement has increased by Rs. 400 from today, whilst the price laundry and body soap has gone up by Rs. 75 and over Rs.100.

As per the cement manufacturers and importers the new price of a 50 kg cement bag is Rs. 2,750. 

This is the third revision in three months with the first one implemented in October 2021 whereby the price of a 50 kg cement bag rose by Rs. 177 from Rs. 1,098 to Rs. 1,275, whilst the second was in January where the price was jacked-up again by Rs. 100 from Rs. 1,275 to Rs. 1,375.

Cement manufacturers and importers citied that the dollar shortage and delays in imported raw materials persisted due to intermittent operational shutdowns of supplier facilities and ports, a scarcity of vessels and other supply chain challenges arising out of the pandemic.

Traders claimed the Government is responsible for the rising cement prices, as they removed the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) on 7 October 2021, leaving space for manufacturers and importers to make profits. “The consumers are cursing us after checking on the prices,” they added.

Separately, a bar of laundry soap which was between Rs. 60 to 70 has gone up to Rs.135 at present, while price of body soap which was at Rs.66-70 range has increased by Rs. 105 to Rs. 175 now.

Retail traders pointed the record price hike in soaps was the highest announced in decades.

Consumers continue to lament that they are the ones who have to suffer due to the short-sighted economic policies and mismanagement by the insensitive Government.

“Living itself has become extremely difficult, let alone providing a nutritious meal and sending our children to school. Before too long, people will have to resort to burglary, shoplifting and other illegal ways for a living,” they pointed out.

Prices of all commodities have increased significantly across the board as a reflection of the knock-on effect of the steep fuel price hike announced recently.

Although the prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed, the vegetable traders cry foul at decreased prices.

“Up and low country vegetable prices have dropped due to lower attendance of buyers and traders following the fuel price hike and shortage,” they groaned.