The cost of medium LPG cylinder, much in demand by consumers, has been increased by 30 per cent in Fujairah and its surrounding areas and the Eastern Coast over the last days.
The price of the medium cylinder has risen from Dh70 to Dh90 in Kalba, while in Fujairah and the adjoining areas it is costing Dh85.
The price of small LPG cylinder has shot up to Dh50 from Dh40, while the price of the large gas cylinder has gone up from Dh170 to Dh180.
Prices of all consumer items have shot up, including that of LPG cylinder, Salem Al Yamahi, a resident in the city of Fujairah, said and called on the Ministry of Economy to immediately intervene to check the price rise.
Al Yamahi, however, attributed the increase to the rise in the price of fuel in the global markets.
“We have increased the price of LPG cylinders following the hike introduced by the suppliers,” said Abdullah Al Qibaisi, owner of a gas cylinder store in Fujairah.
“In order to maintain a margin of profit while covering the cost of living as well as labour wages, rent of the store and other obligations, we have no option but to raise the price,” he said.
Therefore, we increased the price slightly to make a small profit taking into consideration the interest of the consumer.
The spiralling price rise is not confined to the LPG cylinders. It covers all consumer products.
In an effort to halt the price hike and protect the consumer from being exploited by traders, Fujairah Municipality Director-General Engineer Rashid Hamdan has set up an interim watchdog panel with the aim of monitoring the markets in the emirate to ensure that the traders are not jacking up prices of livestock, fruit, vegetables, fish and bread.
The panel held extensive meetings with managers and owners of bakeries, restaurants and shopping malls who pledged not to increase prices without the municipality’s permission, said Abdullah Khalaf, head of Legal Affairs Section and the Consumer Protection Office.
Meanwhile, several bakeries and stores have been warned by the Consumer Protection Office for increasing the prices of some items, he said.
Khalaf called on all consumers to report any rise in prices or violation they might come across by dialing Fujairah Municipality’s toll free number 80036222.