Algeria authorities seize potatoes over price regulation violations

Algerian commerce officials in Boumerdès seized 3,510 kilograms of potatoes at a wholesale market after traders refused to comply with regulated pricing. The seizure follows a government mandate that caps the retail price of the staple vegetable at 90 dinars per kilogram to protect consumer purchasing power.

To address market shortages and price tensions, authorities have initiated destocking operations in several provinces, including Ain Defla, Médéa, Boumerdès, Bouira, and Oued Djellal. These operations aim to release stored supplies to stabilize the national market.

Despite these efforts, reports indicate that potatoes have become scarce in many retail outlets. Some traders are allegedly bypassing official price caps by offering the product at higher rates in secret. Economists have noted that the difficulty in accessing the product reflects the significant influence of intermediaries in the distribution of fresh agricultural goods.