The supply of hilsa has increased at the Boro Station fish landing in Chandpur, one of the country's largest hilsa wholesale markets. But prices are still beyond the reach of ordinary buyers.

Friday, 28 August, was a holiday, and from the morning the landing was crowded with buyers from different parts of the country, with traders calling out prices. Hilsa was available at various wholesale stalls. Some buyers bought according to their needs, while others heard the prices and left disappointed; many decided not to buy despite the better supply.

Hilsa trader Nabir Hossain said a one-kilogram hilsa was selling at Tk 2,700 to 2,800 at the landing, and fish under one kilogram at Tk 2,000 to 2,500. Although it was Friday, fish were selling at the earlier prices.

Another trader, Nahid, said arrivals at the landing had risen as supply increased, but prices had not fallen because demand was high. Prices might ease somewhat if supply rose further and returned to normal.

Sohag, a buyer from Dhaka, said: "Online the prices look low, but at the landing they are higher, beyond the reach of many buyers. The hilsa here is very fresh, though. I bought some; if the price were a little lower I could have bought more. It would help buyers a lot if prices came down."

Shab-e-Barat Sarkar, general secretary of the Chandpur Fish Traders' Association, said supply had risen somewhat over the past few days and that prices mainly move with supply. With more of the season still ahead, supply could increase, and if it outstrips demand, prices are likely to fall.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.