Dhaka kitchen markets see little relief as sugar, oil prices rise
Sugar prices have jumped by Tk10 a kg in a week, loose edible oil has become costlier, and retailers say bottled soybean oil is in short supply.
Sugar and loose edible oil prices have risen in Dhaka's kitchen markets over the past week, while bottled soybean oil has become scarce in many shops and vegetable prices have eased slightly with improved supply.
A visit to several markets in the capital today (21 August) by this reporter found that although vegetable prices have fallen slightly due to improved supply, many essential food items -- including eggs, fish and off-season vegetables -- remain expensive.
Sugar up by Tk10 a kg
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Retail sugar is now selling at Tk120-125 per kilogramme, about Tk10 higher than a week ago. Traders said the price of packaged sugar may also rise soon.
Miraj, a grocery trader in Lalbagh, said dealers had raised the price of a 50kg sack of sugar by Tk900-1,000 in recent days.
Retailers also complained of a shortage of bottled soybean oil, alleging that distributors had curtailed supply in anticipation of a price hike. The retail price, however, remains unchanged at Tk200 per litre.
Loose soybean oil is selling at Tk185-190 per litre, while loose palm oil costs Tk165-170.
Flour prices have also risen, with loose flour retailing at Tk65-70 per kg and packaged flour at Tk70-75, depending on the brand.
Vegetables offer partial relief
Vegetable prices have eased from last week's highs, with most varieties now selling between Tk60 and Tk80 per kg after increased supply.
However, several off-season vegetables are still priced above Tk100. Tomatoes are selling at Tk130 per kg, aubergines at Tk120, carrots at Tk140, yardlong beans at Tk100, and winter beans at Tk200.
Green chillies are retailing at Tk120-160 per kg, although traders said increased imports from India have pushed wholesale prices in Karwan Bazar down to Tk100-110.
Onions and potatoes remain stable at Tk55-60 and Tk25-30 per kg respectively. In some neighbourhoods, mobile vendors were selling potatoes at Tk100 for five kilogrammes.
Khadimul Islam, a vegetable seller at New Market, said supply constraints for off-season produce were keeping prices of items such as aubergines, beans, carrots and tomatoes unusually high despite an overall improvement in the vegetable market.
Eggs and fish remain costly
Egg prices continue to hover at Tk140-150 per dozen in most retail markets and reach Tk155-160 in neighbourhood grocery shops.
Broiler chicken is selling at Tk190 per kg, Sonali chicken at Tk320-340, and local chicken at around Tk650. Beef is priced between Tk780 and Tk800 per kg.
Fish prices have shown little change. Tilapia is selling at Tk250-260 per kg, pangas at Tk230-250, and rui and katla at Tk380-420. Freshwater prawns are retailing at Tk1,000-1,300 per kg.
Hilsa remains beyond the reach of many consumers, with 900g-1kg fish selling for around Tk2,500 and larger 1.3kg fish fetching nearly Tk3,000.
"It is shocking to visit the fish market now. You can't find a single variety for less than Tk250 per kg," said Abu Daud, a customer at New Market.
Fish trader Kafil Uddin said prices had remained largely unchanged in recent days.
"Even if prices fall by Tk20 or Tk30 one day, they go back up the next," he said.
