![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4GPGKTDUKRLIZ6HNZIPIMUFCNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5ee5c369da05f057ac4150e46e9c7cb06b7134ed2d8c51e1724a5c0c06ff8c0&width=400&height=225)
Shoppers browse shoes for sale at a second-hand clothing market in the Ettadhamen district of Tunis, on April 8, 2022. Photo: Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CIEI42YJRJGSRAT5UHKBUQ4CBA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=25503d1152a9af6dbce0e48a99c375669e453dd6f64fc08b1242fe46661cc75d&width=400&height=225)
Empty shelves in a main supermarket in Tunis. Tunisian shops and supermarkets are struggling with massive shortages of basic food supplies such as cooking oil, sugar, coffee and bottled water. Ghaya Ben Mbarek for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZT7PJWQKAFHYZAZ4AQMZIUYTVY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=ad510dcf6357bbd9341aaa12a1c1447f09c0cddece0afbaebdca67a9e042df27&width=400&height=225)
Shops have restricted their customers to buying a specific amount of supplies in an attempt to alleviate the worsening situation. Ghaya Ben Mbarek for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OAAQ6F44U5GMLOJGC22SST5NDU.jpeg?smart=true&auth=c360b5c9ecf50157d9c97fefa2037a08ab59c35894f26569c85f7aa0fec329dc&width=400&height=225)
Most of the goods running short are state-subsidised, which analysts say highlights the growing dysfunction in the state-administered purchasing and distribution of food. They also say there is a growing black market in subsidised goods. Ghaya Ben Mbarek for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K32ZXLCBYFFPHLEZBUQD3WRTUY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=55dae2a6553587c9ef8bf68fcfc724b11cfdae739cf5fb85bfabda0604f3d088&width=400&height=225)
For the past two weeks, coffee and tea have become the latest products to be scarce in supermarkets. Pictures have circulated online of empty shelves and brands limiting their sales to 100 grams per person. Ghaya Ben Mbarek for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZK4EVSO2QRD2VF7UBOAEACPZLA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=4e97f61c92bd32c411f3000ec8b93b077ad3ce360804f6fc454b9ef001aa61db&width=400&height=225)
President Kais Saied and the Tunisian government have blamed the issue on traders monopolising control of basic goods and hoarders. Ghaya Ben Mbarek for The National
A customer shops at a bakery in Tunis. Reuters
Fruit for sale at Sidi Bahri market in Tunis. Reuters
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A Tunisian woman buys vegetables on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at a market in Tunis, on April 13, 2021. EPA
Sidi Bahri market in Tunis, on June 27, 2021. Reuters
Vegetables for sale in Sidi Bahri market in Tunis. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTIKOSDGCVDRNLZJTTJW27AS2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=fe81c92531423e4c1a5f772d008a242ffea86eefee04f5cb52098bff52ee4569&width=400&height=225)
Tunisians buy fresh produce at a market on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Tunis, on April 2. EPA
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A man sells traditional cakes in his shop at the old city in Tunis, on July 1, 2022. EPA
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Shoppers browse products in a supermarket in the Ariana district of Tunis, on April 8. Turmoil triggered by rising food and energy prices is already gripping countries, including Sri Lanka, Egypt, Tunisia and Peru. Photo: Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PINCWYGY6JCKRMJYY5LL5QVGSU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e997777071147fc7b5d88109dfd45f586091fe2102048ed52e841d7a4e0fbb83&width=400&height=225)
A Tunisian dinar price tag on a display of fresh fish at a fishmonger's shop in the Ariana district of Tunis, on April 8, 2022. Photo: Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4GPGKTDUKRLIZ6HNZIPIMUFCNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5ee5c369da05f057ac4150e46e9c7cb06b7134ed2d8c51e1724a5c0c06ff8c0&width=400&height=225)
Shoppers browse shoes for sale at a second-hand clothing market in the Ettadhamen district of Tunis, on April 8, 2022. Photo: Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CIEI42YJRJGSRAT5UHKBUQ4CBA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=25503d1152a9af6dbce0e48a99c375669e453dd6f64fc08b1242fe46661cc75d&width=400&height=225)
Empty shelves in a main supermarket in Tunis. Tunisian shops and supermarkets are struggling with massive shortages of basic food supplies such as cooking oil, sugar, coffee and bottled water. Ghaya Ben Mbarek for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZT7PJWQKAFHYZAZ4AQMZIUYTVY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=ad510dcf6357bbd9341aaa12a1c1447f09c0cddece0afbaebdca67a9e042df27&width=400&height=225)
Shops have restricted their customers to buying a specific amount of supplies in an attempt to alleviate the worsening situation. Ghaya Ben Mbarek for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OAAQ6F44U5GMLOJGC22SST5NDU.jpeg?smart=true&auth=c360b5c9ecf50157d9c97fefa2037a08ab59c35894f26569c85f7aa0fec329dc&width=400&height=225)
Most of the goods running short are state-subsidised, which analysts say highlights the growing dysfunction in the state-administered purchasing and distribution of food. They also say there is a growing black market in subsidised goods. Ghaya Ben Mbarek for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K32ZXLCBYFFPHLEZBUQD3WRTUY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=55dae2a6553587c9ef8bf68fcfc724b11cfdae739cf5fb85bfabda0604f3d088&width=400&height=225)
For the past two weeks, coffee and tea have become the latest products to be scarce in supermarkets. Pictures have circulated online of empty shelves and brands limiting their sales to 100 grams per person. Ghaya Ben Mbarek for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZK4EVSO2QRD2VF7UBOAEACPZLA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=4e97f61c92bd32c411f3000ec8b93b077ad3ce360804f6fc454b9ef001aa61db&width=400&height=225)
President Kais Saied and the Tunisian government have blamed the issue on traders monopolising control of basic goods and hoarders. Ghaya Ben Mbarek for The National
A customer shops at a bakery in Tunis. Reuters
Fruit for sale at Sidi Bahri market in Tunis. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MERG4X3O7RGURPQKGMD7WPP46U.jpg?smart=true&auth=e741eccdda7af40721802715948a0c2c2055de8adc675a20c6c6a098729d4832&width=400&height=225)
A Tunisian woman buys vegetables on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at a market in Tunis, on April 13, 2021. EPA
Sidi Bahri market in Tunis, on June 27, 2021. Reuters
Vegetables for sale in Sidi Bahri market in Tunis. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DTIKOSDGCVDRNLZJTTJW27AS2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=fe81c92531423e4c1a5f772d008a242ffea86eefee04f5cb52098bff52ee4569&width=400&height=225)
Tunisians buy fresh produce at a market on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in Tunis, on April 2. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TA4XJVB625G3BACPJGWJJIKHUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=50ddfb0565098f51ecafe0ac2c5c18d818f54a7e99914e224a3dfda40ecb0e2b&width=400&height=225)
A man sells traditional cakes in his shop at the old city in Tunis, on July 1, 2022. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UMKKCGQX6VBO7CO5YZAOWLF3KY.jpg?smart=true&auth=da9feff3d7577a3274433705cdf52ccee4511a622e76a2cb297470dfd625d222&width=400&height=225)
Shoppers browse products in a supermarket in the Ariana district of Tunis, on April 8. Turmoil triggered by rising food and energy prices is already gripping countries, including Sri Lanka, Egypt, Tunisia and Peru. Photo: Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PINCWYGY6JCKRMJYY5LL5QVGSU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e997777071147fc7b5d88109dfd45f586091fe2102048ed52e841d7a4e0fbb83&width=400&height=225)
A Tunisian dinar price tag on a display of fresh fish at a fishmonger's shop in the Ariana district of Tunis, on April 8, 2022. Photo: Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4GPGKTDUKRLIZ6HNZIPIMUFCNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5ee5c369da05f057ac4150e46e9c7cb06b7134ed2d8c51e1724a5c0c06ff8c0&width=400&height=225)
Shoppers browse shoes for sale at a second-hand clothing market in the Ettadhamen district of Tunis, on April 8, 2022. Photo: Bloomberg
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