Companies have reduced the supply of bottled edible oil to the market, while the prices of loose oil and sugar are rising fast. Flour prices have also gone up, and vegetables, fish, meat and eggs remain stuck at high prices.

This was the picture in various markets in the capital on the morning of Friday, 21 August.

Packaged atta (wholemeal flour) is now selling at Tk 65 a kg, against Tk 55 just 15 to 20 days ago, a rise of Tk 10 a kg. Maida (refined flour) has risen in the same way: loose maida now sells at Tk 65 to 70 a kg and packaged maida at Tk 70 to 75, depending on the company.

The sugar market is also unsettled. Sugar is selling at Tk 120 to 125 a kg at retail, up about Tk 10 in a week. Traders say the price of packaged sugar may also rise.

Chishti, a trader at Malibagh market, said dealers had raised the price of a 50 kg sack of sugar by Tk 900 to Tk 1,000 within a few days, and had told them the price of packaged sugar might go up too.

Meanwhile, the supply of edible oil has fallen. Retailers allege that the companies have cut supply in preparation for a price rise, so many shops cannot get as much bottled oil as they need.

The price of bottled soybean oil has not yet risen and it sells at Tk 200 a litre. But loose oil has already gone up: loose soybean oil sells at Tk 185 to 190 a litre and loose palm oil at Tk 165 to 170.

Vegetable prices have eased somewhat recently, but the market is still not comfortable. A few weeks ago many vegetables went above Tk 100 a kg because of short supply; prices of some fell after supply improved. Most vegetables now sell at Tk 60 to 80 a kg, with pointed gourd, papaya and okra relatively cheaper.

Green chillies have come down somewhat, selling at Tk 120 to 160 a kg in the capital's retail markets and Tk 100 to 110 a kg wholesale at Karwan Bazar.

Enamul, a trader at Segunbagicha market, said supply rose mainly after imports of green chillies from India were allowed, and prices fell considerably as a result.

There is no major change in onion prices, which sell at Tk 55 to 60 a kg depending on quality. Potato prices have stayed about the same for a long time, at Tk 25 to 30 a kg, and vendors on vans in various streets of the capital are selling five kg of potatoes together for Tk 100.

Eggs remain at their earlier high price: Tk 150 a dozen, or four eggs for Tk 50. Prices have been high for nearly a month; before that a dozen eggs sold at Tk 130 to 140.

There is no relief in the meat market either. Broiler chicken sells at Tk 180 to 200 a kg and Sonali chicken at Tk 330 to 340.

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