The shortage of bottled soybean oil in the capital's retail markets has not eased. Many grocery shops have no oil at all, and the one or two that do stock it have only 2- or 5-litre bottles. Half-litre and one-litre bottles are all but unavailable.

Retailers and wholesale suppliers say the companies last raised edible oil prices on 2 September but have still not restored normal supply. Mainly, the edible oil refiners are releasing little bottled soybean oil into the market.

Sellers say the acute shortage is causing hardship for ordinary buyers, and many shopkeepers have started selling loose soybean oil to keep customers.

The information came from visits to various markets in the capital and conversations with sellers on Friday (18 September). Buyers are visiting four or five shops to find oil in one, and even then cannot get the bottle size they want.

Retailers say supply of half-litre and one-litre bottles has all but stopped. Despite repeated requests to distributors, they are not getting oil. Only two or three companies are now releasing bottled soybean oil, far below demand, and only in 2- and 5-litre bottles.

Farid, a buyer in the Malibagh Chowdhurypara area, said: "I needed a one-litre bottle of soybean oil but couldn't find one after trying several shops. So I had to buy a two-litre bottle, and I'm going home without my other shopping."

Bottled soybean oil has gone up by Tk 5 a litre to Tk 204. A buyer now pays Tk 408 for 2 litres and Tk 1,020 for 5 litres.

Retailers also say the oil companies have cut their sales commission sharply, to just Tk 1 a litre.

Afzal Hossain of Bhai Bhai Store in Rampura said: "When people buy 5 litres they already want to pay Tk 5-10 less. Our profit is now Tk 5, so we invest a thousand taka to earn Tk 5. And still the companies aren't supplying oil. They're holding everyone hostage."

Meanwhile, the shortage of bottled oil is pushing up loose oil prices. Loose soybean oil is selling at Tk 205-208 a litre, and palm oil at Tk 180 to Tk 185.

Egg prices have also started to rise in the capital's retail markets. Over the week, farm eggs sold for up to Tk 5 more a dozen, depending on the market, while broiler chicken prices held steady.

Retailers say egg prices began edging up two days ago. A dozen farm eggs sold for Tk 145 to Tk 150 about a week ago and now sells for Tk 150 to Tk 155.

Broiler chicken is still selling at Tk 180 to Tk 190 a kg, and Sonali chicken at Tk 330 to Tk 340 a kg.

Vegetable prices in Dhaka are stable at a somewhat high level. Okra and pointed gourd, which fell to Tk 40-50 a couple of weeks ago, are again selling at Tk 50-60 depending on the market. Cucumber is Tk 50-60 a kg and local bottle gourd Tk 60-70. Long aubergines have also risen, with good-quality ones costing Tk 100-120. Taro (kochur mukhi) is Tk 55-70 and bitter gourd Tk 70-100.

Snake gourd is also somewhat dear at Tk 50-80 depending on the market, while yardlong beans are the dearest at Tk 100-130 a kg. Good-quality ridge gourd and spiny gourd sell for Tk 70-90.

Green chillies have also gone up, selling at Tk 140 to Tk 180 a kg depending on the market, against Tk 80 to Tk 120 earlier.

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