Authorities at the Addis Abeba Trade Bureau have shut down nine salt trading stores on allegations of price gouging. The traders were accused of selling salt for as much 50 Br a kilogram, four times the price ceiling enforced by the Bureau. There has been a spike in price of salt over the last two weeks. Traders blamed the disruption of supply due to transportation problems caused by the conflict in Afar Regional State, which is the only source of salt in Ethiopia. The dispute between producers and suppliers over the price of salt have been also cited by officials as one of the reasons for the recent price hikes, leading to a disruption of supply to factories that iodize salt. Currently, a kilo of salt is being retailed for 20 Br.
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