The Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) has announced reductions on a range of household and industrial products, including mealie meal, sugar and cooking oil, after a renewed call by Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Chipoka Mulenga for firms to lower market prices.
In a statement issued by ZAM president Muhammad Umar, the association said more than 30 members had reduced commodity prices and that the movement was expected to widen as additional companies publish new lists. Umar said the reductions follow what ZAM described as improvements in macroeconomic fundamentals, including appreciation of the kwacha and easing inflationary pressures.
ZAM said the reductions include mealie meal from Delicious Milling. The association stated that breakfast mealie meal under the “Milling” brand has dropped from K300 to K260, while a 25-kilogram bag of breakfast mealie meal from “Granny’s” has been reduced by K300. ZAM also cited reductions on cooking oil from Mount Meru.
The association said other products highlighted under the reductions include “Seba Soya Pieces” and “Nutra Milk” produced by 260 Brands, which it said have recorded a 19 percent price reduction. ZAM also pointed to reductions on irrigation pipes made by Dripking, describing them as having been reduced by five percent.
Umar said Mulenga called on market players last month to reduce prices “in light of improved macroeconomic fundamentals”. ZAM said it welcomes the continued improvements it cited and supports national efforts aimed at reducing the cost of living for Zambian consumers.
In its statement, the association said it views the current adjustments as “positive developments” it expects to contribute to stability, while also maintaining that the aim must be for the reductions to translate into lower prices for consumers. ZAM said it is engaging the government on what it called structural constraints that still exist.
The association listed a range of companies and product lines that it said are among those reducing prices. It named Zambia Sugar and Zambeef as firms it said are cutting prices, with Zambia Sugar referenced in relation to a five percent reduction in industrial and household sugar. ZAM also mentioned products from firms operating across food processing, beverages, construction inputs and industrial supply.
ZAM cited entities involved in the manufacture or supply of edible oils and petroleum-related products, naming Mount Meru, as well as Empire Brands. The association also mentioned bakeries and packaged food producers, referencing “Baker Boy” and “Umubuko” among the names in its list.
In the pharmaceutical and personal-care space, ZAM referenced Pharmanova Zambia Limited and Pharmanova Pharmaceuticals, alongside Zambeef and other firms it said are making price adjustments. It also listed firms it described as operating in packaging and inputs, naming International Drug Companies, Imperial Plastics, and companies involved in irrigation pipes and agricultural inputs.
The statement also referenced manufacturers and distributors in sectors such as bedding and furniture, mentioning “Manal Investments” in connection with mattresses, bedding and furniture. In beverages, the association named Caribea and referenced companies in the beer and soft drink chain, including “Zambia Breweries” and “Spiracle”, while also listing other suppliers it described as serving the national retail and wholesale system.
Umar said manufacturers are expected to keep engaging the government on constraints that affect input costs and the operating environment. The association said the sustained reduction of prices depends on wider efforts in the economy, linking the issue to production costs and the capacity of firms to maintain reductions over time.
ZAM said it appreciates the “engagement and openness” of the ministry and the government, and it called on retailers to pass on the reductions to consumers. The association said that as more companies announce price adjustments, it expects more products to be added to the list of reductions already announced by its members.
The association also tied the latest reductions to what it described as “responsible” action by manufacturers, stating that price reductions should not remain at the level of announcements and corporate lists, but must be reflected in what consumers pay on the shelf.
Umar said ZAM will continue to engage with manufacturers across sectors and encourage companies to “reflect the current macroeconomic trends” in pricing. The association said the overall objective is to reduce the cost of living, while supporting national production.
