Rising headwinds compound industry blues

RISING costs of raw materials, inefficiencies in the allocation of forex through formal channels, rolling blackouts and the high cost of capital continue to stifle business in the country, a local research firm has said.
As the global supply chains were disrupted by Covid-19 and the Russo-Ukrainian war, local manufacturers, especially agro-processors were left to rely heavily on the agriculture sector for survival.

In a research note this week, stock brokers and research firm Akribos said local manufacturers were exposed after the agriculture sector underperformed in the 2