In Russia, they named those responsible for the fact that sugar disappeared from sale

It was not only the rush demand caused by the perfectly normal desire of people to stock up in the face of unpredictability and the sharply changing exchange rate of the ruble that led to the shortage and increase in sugar prices in Russia, but also the factor of producers. This was stated in an interview with the PRIME agency by Professor of the Basic Department of Trade Policy of the Russian University of Economics. G.V. Plekhanov Vyacheslav Cheglov.

According to him, there is also a period of procurement ahead, so we can expect a new wave of activation of the population in terms of self-sufficiency in food, and sugar is also important here.

“Somewhat belated stabilization of the exchange rate, with its too sharp change, influenced the desire to make reserves “until prices rise”, and then “while there is,” Cheglov believes.

In his opinion, the introduction of the rule “no more than such and such a number of units of goods in one hand” by some retail chains also “helped”, stimulating the opposite effect.

However, the expert pointed out that there is sugar in the country, judging by the reports. It’s just that the same factor prompted manufacturers to hold back their goods and sell them more expensive, pegging selling prices to the dollar as a conventional unit, the professor is convinced.

In his opinion, the situation was complicated by the fact that manufacturers urgently need to compensate for losses and lost profits from the recent price regulation. In addition, a significant volume of sales goes through retail chains, contracts with which stipulate a complex procedure for changing delivery prices. It takes time to agree on changes.

“Sugar is a socially significant commodity, it receives increased attention. I don’t want to give up prices, and the emphasis is on sales to the confectionery industry,” Cheglov emphasized.

He is confident that the market will stabilize later. “It is hardly necessary to check retail chains. Look for it in production. Intermediaries in the market, if they remain, are all connected in one way or another with manufacturers, allowing the latter to solve their problems in an environment where social responsibility is given little attention,” the expert summed up.

It should be noted that in recent days, against the backdrop of sanctions by Western countries against Russia due to its military operation in Ukraine, as well as a sharp depreciation of the ruble, a rush demand has arisen in a number of regions for certain types of food (buckwheat, sugar), household appliances and electronics , personal care products, resulting in a shortage of these products, and the prices of many types of products jumped sharply.

On March 18, Federation Council Chairman Valentina Matviyenko assured that Russia has sufficient stocks of sugar and buckwheat, so, she urged, Russians should not actively buy them in stores. According to the speaker of the Federation Council, citizens should work calmly and not succumb to panic.

In the meantime, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation began inspections as part of countering the illegal increase in prices for socially significant goods, including a number of food products, household chemicals, and personal hygiene products.