KARACHI: Domestic appliances makers and retailers are enjoying another phase of booming sales ahead of Eidul Azha as people flock markets to purchase deep freezers and refrigerators for bulk storage of sacrificial animal meat.

In June this year, the deadly heatwave led to high sales of cooling products when demand outstripped supply. Retailers demanded premium on old and new stocks of split air conditioners ranging from Rs2,000 to Rs8,000 per unit.

Retailers recalled that June sales of air conditioners had been the highest in last 20 years.

As Eidul Azha nears, retailers await the next cycle of mega sales, anticipating increased sales of sacrificial animals in the next few days.

More than 225,000 cows, 80,000 goats and sheep, and 2,000 camels have been brought into Super Highway Maweshi Mandi so far. Around 150,000 cows, 50,000 goats and sheep and 400-500 camels have been purchased by Karachiites, claimed Naveed Baig, a spokesman for the cattle market.

“Taking cumulative sales of three to four main animal markets, people of Karachi usually slaughter 600,000-650,000 cows and 200,000-225,000 goats and sheep every year,” Baig added.

Retailers said the growing rush of buyers has so far not created any shortage of deep freezers and refrigerators.

However, retailers of domestic appliances market at Ayesha Manzil, F.B. Area complained of slow sales as compared to last year.

They attributed dull sales to buyers’ shifting towards Regal Saddar, Abdullah Haroon Road and Hashoo Centre area.

As no official sales data exist, retailers gave out various estimates.

A retailer near Hashoo Centre said, “Our sales are up by 20-30 per cent compared to last year. Sales will further pick up on Wednesday and Thursday.”

He said many people have switched over to refrigerators, preferring sizes of 14-18 cubic feet as compared to the 8-10 cubic feet sizes in deep freezers.

He claimed that some manufacturers had increased the prices by

Rs2,000 on deep freezers and fridges some ten days ago but from Monday they had taken back their decision.

In the same areas, transporters of home appliances were seen taking at least seven to eight trips per day to deliver the goods.

The transporters were demanding double charges for deliveries and preferred to load their vehicles with as many refrigerators and deep freezers as possible in a single trip rather than transporting each item separately to various customers.

President Karachi Electronic and Small Traders Association, Mohammad Rizwan claimed a 30-40pc jump in sales of deep freezers and refrigerators as compared to last year, due to Eidul Azha and the latest heatwave in Karachi.

“Markets are now in over supply situation and consumers are not facing any kind of shortage of appliances while dealers are trying to give maximum discounts to lure the customers and clear their stocks,” he said.

According to the figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), refrigerator production soared to 1,462,874 units in 2014-15 from 1,300,523 units in 2013-14. Deep freezer production went up to 88,522 units in 2014-15 from 83,904 units in 2013-14.

The first month of this fiscal year also started on a positive note with production of refrigerators and deep freezers rising to 132,378 and 8,274 units as compared to 130,092 and 7,091 units respectively in July 2014.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2015

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