Vegetables, chicken and eggs ease in Dhaka markets, but rice, oil and fish keep buyers under pressure

Early winter vegetables have begun arriving in Dhaka's markets and prices of several items have fallen, but buyers remain under pressure from high prices for rice, sugar, edible oil, fish and meat. The picture emerged on Friday (13 November) from Nayabazar, South Banasree kitchen market, Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Town Hall and Agargaon Taltala market.

According to the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), coarse rice rose by Tk 3 per kg in the past week to Tk 50-58. Sugar rose by Tk 2 per kg to Tk 110-115.

Loose soybean oil is selling at Tk 190 per litre and bottled soybean oil at Tk 204 per litre. Buyers alleged that some shops are charging more than the price printed on the bottle, up to Tk 210.

The vegetable market looks different. A large cauliflower that sold for Tk 60-70 two weeks ago now costs Tk 40-50. New potatoes have fallen by about Tk 30 per kg to Tk 120, while old potatoes sell for Tk 20-30.

Green chillies have fallen by about Tk 40 per kg to Tk 60-80. New local tomatoes sell for Tk 120-130 and imported tomatoes for Tk 110-120 per kg. Carrots cost Tk 100-140.

Round brinjal sells for Tk 100, long brinjal for Tk 60-80, bitter gourd for Tk 70-100, beans for Tk 80-120, cucumber for Tk 100 and okra for Tk 50-60 per kg. Pointed gourd costs Tk 50-60, sponge and snake gourd Tk 60, radish Tk 50-60 and papaya Tk 30 per kg.

Vegetable seller Md Sumon Mia said winter vegetables have started arriving and some prices have fallen compared with before. He said prices may fall further if supply increases, but retail prices must reflect wholesale prices, transport and other costs.

In the rice market, coarse rice sells for Tk 50-55 per kg, Atash rice for Tk 56-60 depending on quality, and fine rice for Tk 70-90. Polao rice sells loose at Tk 170 and packaged at Tk 220 per kg. Onions cost Tk 50 and garlic Tk 180 per kg.

Private-sector employee Md Rakibul Islam said the fall in vegetable prices is a good sign, but prices of oil, rice and fish are not falling. Money saved on vegetables is spent again on other goods, he said.

There is no relief in the fish market. Tilapia and farmed koi sell for Tk 180-220, pangas for Tk 160-270, silver carp for Tk 180-350 and rohu for Tk 280-380 per kg. Catla costs Tk 350-650 depending on size, pabda Tk 380-450 and mirror carp Tk 350-400.

Farmed prawns sell for about Tk 900 per kg and large freshwater prawns for Tk 1,000-1,500. Small hilsa costs Tk 800-1,000, medium hilsa Tk 1,200-1,600 and large hilsa more than Tk 2,000.

Fish seller Abdul Alim said fish prices depend mainly on the wholesale market. If fish must be bought at a higher price from the Sayedabad landing centre, it must be sold at a higher retail price, he said, adding that ordinary buyers cannot buy as before because large fish and hilsa are expensive.

Chicken and eggs have brought some relief. Broiler chicken sold for Tk 190-200 per kg for months, but in the past two weeks it has fallen to Tk 170-190. Sonali chicken sells for Tk 240-330 and layer chicken for Tk 350-360 per kg.

Brown farm eggs have fallen by about Tk 10 per dozen to Tk 150. On Friday, red eggs sold for Tk 145-150 per dozen and white eggs for Tk 130-135. Beef remains at Tk 800-850 per kg and mutton at Tk 1,200-1,250.

Buyer Naim said that although many vegetables are a bit cheaper, he still cannot afford everything, and he had to return without buying fish. Sellers hope that if winter vegetable supply rises further in the coming week, prices will fall more.