Price of fish rises: the kilo of bonito rises to 6 soles in the Fishing Terminal

On Wednesday, March 30, Prime Minister Aníbal Torres spoke about rising prices for chicken and other essential foods in the basic basket. This was done in the context of the indeterminate stoppage of carriers. This is how he advised the population to consume fish. However, now the fishing terminal is reporting a rise in the price of this food.

“Although the price of chicken rises, but the price of fish falls, especially horse mackerel, we have to get used to consuming those substitute products that our sea can provide us with,” he said at a conference after the meeting of the Council of Ministers.

Bonito fish is known to be one of the cheapest. Thus, when the merchants of the Fishing Terminal in the district of Villa María del Triunfo were consulted and they pointed out that the kilo of Bonito is now costing S/ 6 soles, when it used to cost S/ 3,5 or S/ 4 soles.

“(In the market) they will sell it for seven soles. One sun per kilo wins,” said one of the merchants. This is because the price in the same terminal is usually cheaper, because wholesale prices are handled.

Traders point out that due to the indeterminate stoppage of carriers, which is already celebrating its fourth day on March 31, prices have increased by S/ 2 soles. The kilo of the Perico is at S/25 soles and that of Tollo costs S/15 soles.

On another fish shelf, they reported that Liza fish and horse mackerel lowered their price. The first one used to cost S/6 soles, but this Thursday one sun went down.

STOCKS IN THE FACE OF RISING PRICES

Aníbal Torres was asked whether the government should take action on the issue of the increase in the family basket and said that the State cannot intervene in in order to reduce product prices, this would only be done in the case of exploitation or speculation.

“We cannot legally lower those prices. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine increases the price of oil and consequently of fuels in general and commodities. However, we are taking action,” he said.

The unemployment of freight carriers is another factor that is complicating the government with rising prices. The impediment to the passage of trucks to Lima began to affect the supply to the main supply centers in the capital.

According to reports from wholesale markets in the capital, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Midagri) reported that Lima's Large Wholesale Market received a total of 1,803 metric tons (MT) of products yesterday, a figure that is only 65.38% lower than the 5,208 (MT) recorded on average on the last four Wednesdays.

In addition, in the last seven days among the products that increased the most in price were carrots (54.8%), red onion (27.3%), live chicken (24.2%), lemon (23.5%), tomato (21.89%), among others

CARRIERS' COMPLAINTS

The National Guild of Carriers and Drivers (GNTC) protests the increase in fuel, despite the government's decision to switch to the Stabilization Fund to 84- and 90-octane gasoline. The president of the GNTC, Hector Velasquez, pointed out that his demands include:

- A solution to the increase in the price of fuel by supplier companies.

- Eliminate unfair competition from foreign carriers and direct cargo reserves for national guilds.

- That the table of reference values be declared a mandatory minimum rate.

- Eliminate the Selective Consumption Tax (CSI) on fuels for domestic carriers.

- Review highway and toll concession contracts.

- The total restructuring of the Sutran and the revision of the law on municipalities, among others.

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