Burundi : Brarudi increases prices of its unobtainable products

The prices of drinks from the Burundi Brewery Company (Brarudi) have increased in a proportion of 100 to 500 Burundi francs since June 1, 2024. The increase in the prices of raw materials, packaging and the cost of transport are the main reasons given for making this change, according to a press release from the oldest, if not the only, brewery company in Burundi. But the concerned products remain unobtainable or very rare in the small East African nation. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Beer prices have been increased by between 100 and 500 Burundi francs.

The big Amstel blonde 65 cl beats the record with an increase of 500 Burundi francs compared to the previous price as does the big Primus 72 cl whose price rose by 300 Burundi francs.

The small Amstel 50 cl, the Bock and the Royale experienced an increase of 200 francs per bottle.

The prices of non-alcoholic drinks are increased by 100 Burundi francs.

A Brarudi press release issued for this purpose explains that the rates applied in the commercial city Bujumbura where it is based are the same as those observed throughout Burundi.

This is the second price increase decided by this company in less than a year. The last one dates back to August 2023. At the time, the rise in raw material prices was the only reason.

Brarudi products cannot be found

The announcement of the new prices for Brarudi products comes at a time when traders and consumers are complaining of “not finding any”. A situation which has worsened over the last five months.

Several bar owners say they are working at a loss, with several businesses having been forced to close their doors.

The big Amstel, whose price is generally higher compared to the price of other drinks, remains the favorite beer of Burundians and therefore highly sought after in the commercial capital, as is Amstel Royale.

The latter is almost impossible to find in bistros in Bujumbura, noted SOS Médias Burundi reporters. A certain opinion believes that the two jewels of Burundian consumers would be sold in foreign currency in the sub-region and more particularly in the DRC, which explains their shortage on the soil of the small East African nation.

“The economic situation of the country being what it is today, we wonder if the best solution to all our ills is to increase the prices of products consumed on a large scale despite the warnings that the government continues to issue”, complain city dwellers who spoke to SOS Médias Burundi on Saturday evening.

Invited on Thursday, April 25, to the Kigobe hemicycle, Prime Minister, Gervais Ndirakobuca returned to the question of Brarudi products which have been becoming increasingly rare for a long time.

He recognized that Brarudi has a very thorny problem linked to the lack of foreign currency to import raw materials. Gervais Ndirakobuca declared that his government will look into the issue.

According to the Prime Minister, Brarudi has formally notified the government that the activities of this company are at a standstill and has requested intervention from the incapable government.

“We are in the process of seeing how to find a solution. But we must consider the priorities. Can we sacrifice the money intended for the purchase of fertilizers and give it to Brarudi today?” insisted Mr. Ndirakobuca who said the government has no answers to almost all the crises rocking the country now, blaming the 2015 sanctions, following another controversial term of the late President Pierre Nkurunziza that year. According to him, “these sanctions plunged the country into the abyss after 2020 because between 2015 and 2020, we still had some savings”.