The Ministry of Internal Trade and Market Regulation convened a virtual meeting on 29 October 2026 to address market stability across Algeria. Officials during the session discussed the implementation of new supply and price controls specifically targeting bananas and red meat. This action follows concerns regarding price volatility for these essential food items. The ministry aims to regulate distribution channels to ensure consistent availability for consumers. Participants at the meeting examined mechanisms to monitor retail costs and prevent unjustified inflation in the food sector. These measures represent a direct response to current market conditions affecting the availability of these products. Authorities intend to apply these regulatory frameworks to stabilize the domestic food supply chain effective immediately.
New Price Ceilings for Bananas
The government established a mandatory price ceiling for bananas ranging between 420 and 450 Algerian dinars per kilogram. These retail price limits apply to all vendors operating within Algeria to ensure consistent consumer costs.
Separately, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Export Promotion implemented a maximum import price for bananas of one dollar per kilogram. Officials designed this specific financial threshold to prevent monopoly practices among domestic distributors. The regulation aims to regulate the cost of incoming shipments before they enter the local supply chain. These combined measures serve to limit price volatility for the commodity while maintaining fixed margins for importers and retailers. Authorities intend for these controls to stabilize the availability of bananas across the national market effective immediately.
Regulating Red Meat Profit Margins
Executive decrees from April 2024 mandate specific profit margins for red meat to control retail costs. These regulations set the margin for importers at 4%, wholesalers at 5%, and retailers at 8%. To further support these pricing objectives, the 2026 Finance Law reduced customs duties on red meat to 5%.
Operational oversight for these price controls involves a new digital monitoring system. On 29 October 2026, 250 officials attended a training session at the National School of Hotel and Catering to learn the application of this platform. The system allows authorities to track price fluctuations and supply levels across Algeria in real time.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune initiated separate measures to manage inventory levels and prevent market volatility. During a Council of Ministers meeting on 18 October 2026, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordered the creation of a dedicated mechanism to purchase and store surplus local products. This intervention aims to stabilize supply chains and prevent price spikes by holding excess stock for release when market availability decreases.
