Libya announces price control measures to stabilise local markets
Libya has announced a package of price control measures designed to regulate local markets and stabilise volatile prices as part of a wider push to enhance food and consumer security across the country, according to the Libya Review on January 8th.
The announcement was made by Libya’s Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Hwajj, during a meeting focused on reviewing technical reports on market conditions, inflation trends, and commodity supply. A statement from the ministry confirmed that its departmental technical performance was also assessed.
Al-Hwajj stated that the ministry will implement a guiding import budget to establish clear import priorities with the Central Bank of Libya. He said the measure will regulate supply flows into Libyan markets, improve state control over essential goods to manage pricing, and ease some pressure on foreign currency.
He also instructed ministry officials to finalise fixed price points for selected strategic basic commodities which, once approved, will be referred to regulatory and enforcement authorities who will be responsible for applying them to local markets.
The ministry has launched these regulatory measures in reaction to an unstable Libyan economy which is steadily eroding the finances of regular Libyan citizens. The Libya Trade Network, which is linked to the western Government of National Unity (GNU), reported in December 2025 that food and medicine prices have risen by up to 25%.
Moreover, a report in February 2025 noted that nearly one third of Libyans are living in poverty despite exponentially increasing oil revenues enjoyed by the country. This fact is perhaps unsurprising considering the GNU has been accused of entrenched corruption.
Such widespread graft and economic management has, amongst other things, provoked sweeping civil unrest and anti-government demonstrations in several major cities and towns in Libya. Protestors expressed anger over the loss of oil revenues, which is the country’s primary national income source, at the hands of extensive and illicit state-run fuel smuggling.
Libya Review, Maghrebi.org
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