Prices soar at local market due to scarcity of goods

Prices of goods at the local market at present are soaring high due to scarcity.

Ali Shareef, a seller at the local market who spoke with Sun, said goods are scarce at present at the local market due to bad weather that has cancelled incoming boats to Male’ from the islands.

He projected that the prices of goods will go down once boats resume travel to Male’ after the weather lightens up.

Prices of goods in the market at present

Green and red apples – MVR 10

Mangoes – MVR 120 per kilo

Watermelon – MVR 30 per kilo

Guava – MVR 90 per kilo

Rambutan – MVR 150 per kilo

Kiwi – MVR 200 per kilo

Chilli – MVR 170 per kilo/MVR 20 per 100 grams

Lettuce – MVR 60 per kilo

Collard – MVR 2

Eggplant – MVR 50 per kilo

Papaya – MVR 20

Lemon – MVR 30

Pumpkin – MVR 25

According to sellers, the prices of lemons and chilies—both staples in Maldivian cuisine—have risen. Previously, lemons were sold at MVR 60 to MVR 70 per kilo.

Chilies, which saw a price spike during the last Ramadan to MVR 180 per kilo, are currently priced at MVR 170. However, sellers warn that prices may rise further. Typically, a kilo of chili is priced at around MVR 100.

Notably, apple prices have doubled, with individual apples previously sold for MVR 5. A case of apples now costs MVR 1,000, a significant increase from the earlier range of MVR 580 to MVR 600.

It has been a while since the prices of apples have been on the rise. As apples are not farmed in the Maldives, they are mostly imported from abroad. The highest number of apples are imported from South Africa.