It is the company Procurator Sverige AB that is now making the sharp price increases on, among other things, filtering half-masks, protective suits, certain goggles and visors and surface and hand disinfection, reports Dagens Nyheter. The company has claimed force majeure, a type of emergency permit that allows the supplier to depart from the original agreement.

Tenfold increase

The central procurement center, which coordinates the state framework agreements, has accepted the increase, which means that authorities are now forced to pay up to ten-fold higher prices. SKL Commentus' purchasing center, which coordinates for Sweden's municipalities and regions, has also approved the price increases.

- Here is the supply and demand that applies, the products are not available if you do not participate and pay, says Olof Molander, business area manager for framework agreement at SKL Commentus purchasing center, to DN.

Large material deficiencies

The newspaper has taken part in a price list which shows, for example, that a bottle with hand disinfection has been increased by just over 1000 per cent from SEK 6.81 to SEK 70.08 per bottle.

Procurator Sverige AB writes in an e-mail to the Chamber of Commerce, which runs the central government purchasing center, that the demand for the products has changed dramatically due to the corona virus. Data for DN states that there are also large shortages of materials for product manufacturing. The suppliers have in turn received raised prices from their subcontractors. Transport costs have also increased significantly as the products are now being flown in to Sweden.