Kinshasa, August 17th, 2026 (CPA).- A 13 per cent rise in the price of a crate of chillies from Kimpese, in Kongo Central province (south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo), has been observed in the markets of Kinshasa (the country’s capital), rising from 150,000 FC to 170,000 FC, according to a mini-survey carried out on Monday by the CPA. “The price of a crate of chillies has risen from 150,000 FC to 170,000 FC – equivalent to 74 US dollars at an exchange rate of 2,300 FC to the dollar – in Kinshasa’s markets during the period from July 19th to August 11th 2026,” has said Christine Mafuta, a food stallholder at the Liberte market in the community of Masina. According to her, this rise in the price of certain ingredients is due to seasonal shortages, as well as increased transport costs and additional expenses in the production areas.
These include a bunch of garlic, which has risen from 50,000 FC to 65,000 FC, or 28 USD; a bag of cucumbers at 200,000 FC, or 87 USD, compared with 155,000 FC previously; a carton of ‘Lion’ brand tinned tomatoes, currently selling for 41,000 FC, or 17.82 US dollars, compared with 40,000 FC previously; a 15-kilogramme bag of onions from the town of Boma in Kongo Central province, which is currently selling for 33,000 FC, or 14 US dollars, compared with 30,000 FC previously. She added that a bunch of celery from the Bateke Plateau, which used to cost 3,000 FC and now costs 6,000 FC, or US$2.60; a tray of beef tomatoes from Mbanza-Ngungu, in Kongo Central, which is now selling for 145,000 FC, or 63 US dollars, compared with 140,000 FC previously. As for beef tomatoes from Angola, their price has risen from 40,000 FC to 45,000 FC, equivalent to 19.56 US dollars.
Price falls for certain products
Furthermore, during the same round of market visits in the capital, a 23 per cent drop was observed in the price of a crate of aubergines known as ‘solo’, sourced from the town of Kimpese in Kongo Central province, falling from 170,000 FC to 130,000 FC, equivalent to 56 US dollars. Ms Renette Loseke, a food vendor at the Matadi-Kibala market in the municipality of Mont-Ngafula, explained that the fall in the price of this product, as well as other widely consumed foodstuffs, is due to seasonal abundance, but also to the appreciation of the Congolese franc on the market.
Furthermore, a crate of peppers from Kongo Central, which used to cost 170,000 FC, is now selling for 130,000 FC, or 56 US dollars; a bag of cloves imported from China, which used to sell for 100,000 FC and now costs 80,000 FC, or 34.78 US dollars; a bag of carrots costing 75,000 FC, or 32.60 US dollars, compared with 100,000 FC previously; a sack of lemons costing 55,000 FC, or 24 US dollars, compared with 60,000 FC previously; a sack of ginger selling for 80,000 FC, or 34.78 US dollars, compared with 90,000 FC previously.
Stable prices for some ingredients
However, Anael Mazinga, a market trader at Zigida Market in the municipality of Kinshasa, has reported that other ingredients have remained stable due to their abundance on the market. These include a bag of cabbage, which has remained at 130,000 FC, or 56 US dollars; a bunch of chives, commonly known as ‘Ndembi’, from the town of Kimwenza in the commune of Mont-Ngafula, which costs 40,000 FC, or 17 US dollars; a bowl of white pepper, which has remained at 9,000 FC, or 3.90 US dollars; a tin of black pepper, which is selling for 10,700 FC, or 4.65 US dollars; a bunch of parsley at 8,500 FC, or 3.69 US dollars; and a box of 36 ‘Jumbo simple’, costing 5,500 FC, or 2 US dollars.