Albania supermarkets have started rationing the sale of sunflower oil to customers amid rising prices due to the war in Ukraine.
An on the ground survey conducted by Monitor found that several supermarkets throughout the capital were restricting purchases to five litres per customer, with others capping it at six. Similar reports came from other cities such as Elbasan and Pogradec.
Importers say that demand is high and prices will continue to increase. They told the portal that there are issues in meeting demand as high quantities are not easy to come by, but they do not anticipate shortages as such. But the situation has led to panic buying as consumers fear further prices increases or potential shortages.
Over 80% of Europe’s sunflower oil comes from Ukraine and Russia. Moscow’s invasion plunged the markets into uncertainty as both exports and the sowing of future crops were called into jeopardy. Other suppliers such as Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, and Hungary have also put restrictions on exports until at least the middle of May.
In Italy, Greece, and Germany there are already restrictions on purchasing such oils, although this is the first time it has happened in Albania, Monitor reports.
