The country's markets are now full of mangoes, litchis, jackfruit and many other fruits. In this season of plenty, imported fruit has lost its hold on the market, and as demand has fallen, so have prices.
Green apples now sell for Tk 280 to 300 a kg and red apples for Tk 250 to 260. Apple prices have fallen by Tk 30 to 50 a kg in two to three weeks.
Malta prices have fallen even more, to between Tk 220 and 250 a kg. During the last Ramadan malta rose as high as Tk 380, and the price has come down to this level since a little after Eid-ul-Fitr.
This was the picture on Saturday (25 May) at several markets in the capital's Rampura and Badda areas.
Pears and oranges down, grapes steady
Wholesale and retail fruit sellers said local fruit is in full season, which is why demand for imported fruit has fallen and prices are coming down.
Besides apples and malta, the prices of pears and oranges are also falling. Grapes and pomegranates, however, are selling at the same prices as before.
In the retail market, oranges were selling at Tk 350 a kg, grapes at Tk 280 to 300, pears at Tk 250 to 260 and pomegranates at Tk 450 to 500.
Enamul Haque, a retail fruit seller at Rampura market, told Jago News: "The market is full of local mangoes and litchis. Buyers are not looking at imported fruit now. That is why prices are falling, and they will fall further."
He said: "Imported fruit prices were high for a long time. Buyers are relieved that prices are coming down, although they are busy with mangoes and litchis now."
Dollar and duty problems remain
Market data show imported fruit prices were abnormal during the last Ramadan, when imported fruit such as apples, oranges and malta rose by Tk 20 to 100 a kg. Traders blamed higher customs valuation and the dollar crisis.
The dollar and customs valuation problems have still not gone away. But prices are falling because of lower demand, said Sheikh Abdul Karim, general secretary of the Dhaka Metropolitan Fruit Importers-Exporters and Aratdar Traders Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
He told Jago News: "The dollar is dearer now than in Ramadan, and duties and taxes have not been cut in the meantime. Importers are still facing some complications. But demand for fruit is very low now, so despite the problems we have to sell a little cheaper."
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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