(Reuters). Russia’s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service announced on Thursday that they were conducting “anti-cartel” inspections at sugar producer majors following a dramatic rise in sugar prices, and unjustified shortages in certain areas as consumers rushed to get their sugar.

In Russia’s most recent video, unverified footage was posted online and showed pensioners fighting for as much sugar as possible.

Russians consider sugar and staples such as salt and buckwheat useful commodities to have in stock for times of emergency. Many Russians quickly bought supplies as Western sanctions on Russia due to Ukraine’s conflict weakened their currency and drove food prices up.

Oleg, who is a Vladimir builder said that his mother-in law was at the store yesterday. “There was not enough sugar and it was impossible to find it elsewhere.” People are concerned.

According to Rosstat statistics, the Russian annual inflation reached its peak in March 2015 and sugar prices rose 12.8% over the past week.

Authorities have advised people not to hurry to purchase food products.

FAS said that sugar is not available on shelves in many regions due to “a rush in demand” and added that they were inspecting retailers, sugar producers and intermediaries.

Promsvyazbank analysts stated that the lack of product was caused by consumers’ behaviour, not a shortage. The bank reported that sugar sales increased by around 6.5 percent since March began.

EXPORTBAN

Russia, which hopes to lower domestic food inflation by banning sugar exports from August 31, has set aside a duty free quota on imports up to 300,000 tonnes of sugar.

The agriculture ministry stated earlier in the week that these measures along with the planned increase of sugar beet cultivation area to 2022 will help increase domestic supply.

Viktor Evtukhov said that sugar is not a problem and that the producers produce it in adequate quantities.

We don’t expect shortages, given the fact that we have decided to allow imports without restrictions of the product.

The IKAR consultancy stated in a note that two ships carrying 88,000 tonnes (or raw sugar) are currently on the way to Russia’s Black Sea port.

Magnit Russia hired extra workers to improve its sugar packaging capability to speed up deliveries to stores. But it doesn’t expect any shortages.

Anna Meleshina from Magnit said, “Officially we’re seeing a brief increase in demand for certain types of grocery products and non-food items. But we believe this is temporary and the process will stabilize in near future.”