Soybean oil shortage persists; flour prices climb in Dhaka markets
Bottled soybean oil remains scarce in Dhaka markets, while flour and refined flour prices continue to rise. Meanwhile, vegetable prices remain high, though egg and chicken prices have eased slightly.
Highlights:
- Bottled soybean oil remains scarce across Dhaka retail markets
- Soybean oil prices have increased by Tk5 to Tk204 per litre
- Flour and refined flour prices have risen significantly
- Several vegetables remain expensive, particularly beans and green chillies
- Egg and some chicken prices have declined slightly
The shortage of bottled soybean oil in Dhaka's retail markets has yet to ease, with many grocery shops still unable to supply the product, while prices of flour and refined flour have increased.
Although some shops have 2- and 5-litre bottles of soybean oil, 500ml and 1-litre bottles are rarely available. Meanwhile, the price of bottled soybean oil has increased by Tk5 per litre to Tk204.
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The information was gathered from visits to several markets in the capital and conversations with buyers and sellers today (18 September).
Retailers and wholesale suppliers said edible oil companies raised prices on 2 September but have not yet restored normal supplies. They said refiners are releasing limited quantities of bottled soybean oil, particularly the smaller 500ml and 1-litre bottles.
Retailers said they have repeatedly contacted distributors for supplies but are still receiving insufficient quantities.
Currently, only two or three companies are supplying bottled soybean oil, mostly in 2- and 5-litre bottles, they said.
Farid, a buyer at New Market, said he needed a 1-litre bottle but could not find one despite visiting several shops. He eventually bought a 2-litre bottle and returned home without purchasing other groceries.
A 2-litre bottle of soybean oil now costs Tk408, while a 5-litre bottle costs Tk1,020.
Flour prices also climb
Prices of flour and refined flour have also increased in the retail market.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the price of loose flour has risen by Tk3 per kg over the past month, while loose and packaged refined flour prices have increased by Tk5 per kg.
Loose flour is currently selling for Tk50 per kg, up from Tk45, while loose refined flour costs Tk65–70 per kg, compared with Tk55–60 a month ago.
A 2kg packet of refined flour is selling for Tk160–170, or Tk80–85 per kg. A month ago, packaged refined flour cost Tk70–75 per kg.
Miraj Ahmed, a grocery shopkeeper at New Market, said the price of a 50kg sack of refined flour had increased from Tk2,500 to Tk2,800 last week.
Some vegetables remain expensive
Several vegetables are still selling at high prices. Green beans are priced at Tk240 per kg, round eggplant at Tk140, tomatoes at Tk100 and green chillies at Tk200.
Other vegetables include French beans at Tk100, ridge gourd and snake gourd at Tk60, sponge gourd and bitter gourd at Tk80, pointed gourd and okra at Tk70, and cucumber at Tk80 per kg.
Meanwhile, egg prices have declined slightly over the past week, with a dozen now selling for Tk140–145, down from Tk150–155.
Broiler chicken remains at Tk190 per kg, while Sonali, hybrid and layer chicken prices have fallen by Tk10 per kg.
Sonali chicken is selling for Tk310–320 per kg, hybrid at Tk290–300 and layer at Tk350, while beef prices remain at Tk800 per kg.
Fish market largely stable
Fish prices have remained largely stable, although some varieties have increased by Tk20–30 per kg while others have declined by Tk10–20.
Farmed pangas is selling for Tk230 per kg and tilapia for Tk260. Depending on quality, shrimp costs Tk800–900, pabda Tk350–450, large rohu Tk450–500 and tengra Tk700 per kg.
Vetki is priced at Tk400–550 per kg, mrigel at Tk250–300, native koi at Tk600–800, farmed koi at Tk260, farmed shrimp at Tk300–450 and medium-sized rohu at Tk270–350.
