Veggie prices ease while sugar, flour rise; egg, fish and chicken remain costly
Increased supplies have since brought down the prices of some vegetables, although the market has yet to offer full relief.
Prices of sugar and flour have risen in Dhaka's kitchen markets, while vegetable prices have eased a little, bringing some relief to consumers.
Visits to several markets in the capital and conversations with buyers and sellers today (28 August) revealed that over the past two weeks, the price of loose sugar has risen by Tk15 per kilogram, while packaged flour has become Tk10 more expensive.
Alongside the price hikes, supplies of sugar and bottled edible oil have also declined. Meanwhile, egg, fish and chicken prices remain high.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Sugar prices rise amid supply shortage
The price of loose sugar has recently increased by Tk5 per kilogram and is now selling for Tk115 to Tk120. Over the past two weeks, the price has risen by Tk15 per kg.
The price of packaged sugar has also increased.
It is currently selling for Tk120 to Tk125 per kg in retail markets, up by around Tk10 over the past week. The maximum retail price printed on packaged sugar has also been increased from Tk110 to Tk120 per kg.
Miraj, a trader in Lalbagh, said dealers have increased the price of a 50kg sack of sugar by Tk900 to Tk1,000 within a few days.
The price of packaged sugar has also risen by Tk10 per kg, he told this reporter.
Alongside the price increase, sugar supplies have declined. Many shops do not have sugar in stock, forcing customers to visit several stores to buy packaged sugar.
Traders said higher prices at the company, mill-gate and wholesale levels have affected retail markets. Sugar supplies from mill gates have also declined compared with earlier levels.
Flour prices also increase
The price of packaged flour has also increased. It is currently selling for Tk80 per kg, compared with Tk70 per kg 15 to 20 days ago.
The maximum retail price printed on a 2kg packet of flour has increased from Tk140 to Tk160.
No relief from prices of other essentials
Egg prices remain high, with a dozen selling for Tk150 and four eggs for Tk50. In some neighbourhood retail shops, a dozen eggs are selling for as much as Tk160.
Broiler chicken is selling for Tk180 to Tk200 per kg, while Sonali chicken costs Tk300 to Tk320 per kg.
Onion prices have remained largely unchanged for several weeks, selling for Tk55 to Tk60 per kg depending on quality.
Potato prices have also remained stable at Tk25 to Tk30 per kg.
Potatoes are being sold from vans on different streets in the capital at Tk100 for 5kg.
Bottled edible oil supplies decline
Supply of edible oil has also declined. Retailers alleged that companies have reduced supplies of bottled oil in preparation for a price increase, leaving many shops unable to meet demand.
However, the price of bottled soybean oil has not yet increased – the government-fixed price remains Tk200 per litre.
Meanwhile, the price of loose oil has increased. Loose soybean oil is selling for Tk185 to Tk190 per litre, while loose palm oil costs Tk165 to Tk170 per litre.
Veggies provide some relief
Vegetable prices have declined somewhat in recent weeks after many items had exceeded Tk100 per kg due to supply shortages.
Increased supplies have since brought down the prices of some vegetables, although the market has yet to offer full relief.
Most common vegetables, including aubergine, bitter gourd, yardlong beans, okra, pointed gourd and teasel gourd, are selling for Tk80 to Tk120 per kg.
Cucumbers are comparatively cheaper at Tk50 to Tk60 per kg, although local varieties are selling for Tk80 to Tk100 per kg.
Early winter beans, which have arrived in the market during the monsoon season, remain expensive at Tk180 to Tk200 per kg.
Papaya is selling at a comparatively lower price of Tk30 per kg.
Long aubergines are selling for Tk100 per kg, round aubergines for Tk120 and tomatoes for Tk120 to Tk140. Yardlong beans, ridge gourd and bitter gourd are selling for Tk80 per kg.
Bottle gourds are selling for Tk50 to Tk70 each, while taro root costs Tk80 per kg.
The price of green chilli has also returned closer to normal levels – it is selling for Tk80 to Tk120 per kg in Dhaka's retail markets and Tk60 to Tk70 per kg at the wholesale market in Karwan Bazar.
Rahat, a vegetable trader, said supplies of green chilli have increased after imports from India were allowed, leading to a significant decline in prices.
Rashed, a customer, said he bought aubergines for Tk100, bitter gourd for Tk80, a small bottle gourd for Tk60 and 250 grams of chilli for Tk30.
"Everything is expensive. The market is beyond what we can afford," he said.
Fish prices remain high
Fish prices also remain high. Tilapia is selling for Tk250 to Tk260 per kg, pangas for Tk230 to Tk250, rohu and catla for Tk380 to Tk420 and shrimp for Tk1,000 to Tk1,300 per kg.
Pabda fish is selling for Tk350 to Tk400 per kg, large rohu for Tk450 to Tk500, indigenous climbing perch for Tk700 to Tk800 and farmed climbing perch for Tk300.
Farmed shing fish is selling for Tk300 to Tk450 per kg, depending on size, while medium-sized rohu costs Tk300 to Tk350 per kg.
