Vegetable prices in Dhaka's markets are now slightly lower, but grocery prices have become unsettled. Edible oil, sugar, atta, maida (refined flour), eggs and several other goods are getting dearer, leaving shoppers with little relief.

Companies have also cut the supply of bottled edible oil and sugar, and many shops have none. This was the picture in various markets of the capital on 28 August.

Packaged maida now sells at Tk 80 a kg, against Tk 70 some 15 to 20 days ago, a rise of Tk 10 a kg. The printed price on a two-kilogram packet is now Tk 160, up from Tk 140.

Sugar sells at Tk 120 to 125 a kg in retail, up by about Tk 10 in a week. The maximum retail price printed on packaged sugar has been raised from Tk 110 to Tk 120.

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 packaged sugar had gone up by Tk 10 a kg. Even so, many shops have no sugar; supply has fallen sharply and buyers have to try several shops before they find packaged sugar.

Traders said retail prices rose mainly because prices went up at the company (mill gate) and wholesale levels, and mills are also supplying less than before.

The supply of edible oil has fallen as well. Loose soybean oil has become dearer, but the price of bottled oil has not yet risen. Retailers allege that companies have cut supplies in preparation for a price increase, so many shops cannot get as much bottled oil as they need.

Loose soybean oil sells at Tk 185 to 190 a litre and loose palm oil at Tk 165 to 170 a litre. The government-fixed price of bottled soybean oil is Tk 200 a litre.

Vegetable prices have come down somewhat. A few weeks ago many vegetables topped Tk 100 a kg because of a supply shortfall; once supply improved, some prices fell. Most vegetables now sell at Tk 50 to 60 a kg, with pointed gourd, papaya and okra relatively cheap.

Green chilli prices have returned to normal, at Tk 80 to 120 a kg in the capital's retail markets and Tk 60 to 70 a kg wholesale at Karwan Bazar. Trader Khandaker Azizul said supply rose mainly after imports of green chillies from India were allowed, which brought prices down considerably.

Onion prices have changed little for several weeks, at Tk 55 to 60 a kg depending on quality. Potatoes have stayed at about Tk 25 to 30 a kg for a long time, and on various streets in the capital vans are selling five kilograms for Tk 100.

Eggs remain at their earlier high price: Tk 150 a dozen, or four for Tk 50. In some neighbourhood shops a dozen sells for as much as Tk 160.

Broiler chicken sells at Tk 180 to 200 a kg and Sonali chicken at Tk 300 to 320 a kg.

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