Kenyans are set to pay more for consumer goods following the Covid-19 epidemic.
Business Daily on Tuesday, March 3 reported that top retailers in the country have warned of an increase in the prices of consumer goods due to the coronavirus epidemic that has affected the supply chain.
The retailers who had imported goods from China during New Year have indicated that they will run out of goods in the next three weeks.
Kenya imports a variety of goods from China, including mobile phones, machinery, kitchenware, clothing, furniture, optical and medical equipment.
The deadly microbe which has claimed the lives of thousands in the South Asian Nation, has forced several factories and industries to shut down. This has in turn immensely affected the global supply chain. Kenya imports 20.2 per cent of her goods from China with an estimated worth of Ksh324.9 billion as of November 2019.
Retailers revealed that they would turn to alternative sources to meet demand, noting that members of the public would have to pay more as the markets are relatively more expensive than China's.
"We already have concerns from suppliers, and the effect of supplies will be apparent towards the end of the month," the publication quoted a retail commercial officer as saying.
"We expect the prices of key commodities especially electronics, clothing, and toys to rise because of supply hitches and the fact that we are sourcing from more expensive markets," he added.
The publication reported that the retailers had expanded their sources of supply, with some looking to European nation Turkey and South America's Brazil.
"We have been informed by many of our overseas suppliers that there will be a shortage of certain categories of goods,
"In fact, we have been looking for alternative markets and the prices will go up," the publication quoted a source as stating.
Several other dealers in electronics and clothing have echoed the same, indicating an increase in prices.
"There has been a glitch and it has affected a lot of operations back in China, not just electronics related. This has affected our product launches hence I have been forced to adjust the events calendar for this year," another source informed.
A majority of factories in China's capital, Beijing is on lockdown as the country efforts to curb the deadly coronavirus. Container ports in the country have had a backlog of cargo as workers have had to stay off work.
With over 80,000 people infected with the virus in China alone, the country has had to deal with massive shortages in labour during this period. This, in turn, jammed up the supply chain.
China is the largest container cargo handler with 30 per cent of the global traffic, and the virus' outbreak has massively affected the supply chain, with technology, machinery, food, the sectors majorly affected.
Operators of online markets have decried the stall in business due to failure to ship products.
