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The Egyptian government last weekÌýÌýa three-month ban on all types of sugar exports in a bid to stop local market shortages.

Egypt's ministry of supply and internal trade will need to approve any possible exports of surplus sugar, the state-run Al-Ahram online news outlet , citing the government's Official Gazette.

The decision came asÌýsugar prices soared in the weeks leading up to the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which started in Egypt on 23 March.

Egyptians typically consume large amounts of sugarÌýduring Ramadan, including in sweet drinks like hibiscus and tamarind juices that help stave off dehydration and in desserts likeÌý and .

To make up for the shortage, EgyptÌýÌý620,000 acres of sugar beets this yearÌý– up 10,000Ìýacres from the year beforeÌý– and aims to produce 1.8 million tons of sugar from beets, the Al-Ahram report .

Supply and internal trade minister Ali Moselhi recently Ìýprices for the current season’s local sugar beets by EGP75 ($US 2.43) per ton to encourage farmers to grow more of the crop as the country seeks to double crop production.

The average price of one kilogram of sugar ranges from 22-26 Egyptian pounds ($US 0.71 - 0.84) in the local market, depending on the brand - a high cost for most households. ÌýÌý

One-third of Egypt's 104 millionÌýÌýare estimated to be livingÌý.

Over 60 million Egyptians benefit from free food rations that include sugar - thoughÌýEgyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi moved in December 2021 to cut them downÌýin a decision that sparked shockwaves across the country.Ìý

Besides sugar, the beneficiaries of free food rations are offered commodities such as Egyptian flatbread, cooking oil, sugar, and rice. Citizens have long complained about the low quality of these products, though.

The prices of basic commodities have shot upÌýin recent months after the value of the local currency fell against the US dollarÌýby almost 50 percent due to several controversial economic decisions taken by the government.