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Cumin seed prices witnessed a notable hike in the city markets in last two days, which traders attributed to a plunge in its import.
Prices of ginger, sugar and loose edible oil, however, showed a decline, while medium quality lentil prices further increased during the period.
Different qualities of cumin were sold at Tk 500-620 a kg on Monday, which were retailed at Tk 380-450 a kg earlier.
The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) recorded 47 per cent hike in cumin seed prices on an average in last two days.
Helal Uddin, a grocer at Sher-e-Bangla Road in Mohammadpur, told the FE that prices of the spice increased by Tk 100-120 a kg at wholesales in Moulovibazar and Karwanbazar in the city in a week.
He also said finer cumin seed prices witnessed more hike than that of normal.
Asked, Haji Mohammad Rubel, organising secretary of Bangladesh Wholesale Spice Merchant Association, told the FE that supply of the spice declined amid low import due to the ongoing lockdown.
He said prices of the spice witnessed Tk 80-90 a kg hike at Khatunganj and Asadganj wholesales in Chattogram in a week.
Ranojit Majumdar, a Chattogram-based spice trader, said Indian cumin seed is now selling at Tk 420-430 a kg, while that of Turkey and Syrian varieties at Tk 460-470 a kg.
Import of the spice from India and Turkey has declined, while a good quantity of the spice is yet to be unloaded in Chattogram Port amid the lockdown.
Cumin seed import cost has not increased, but supply disruption has caused the price hike, he added.
According to the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission, the country has a demand for 27,000 to 28,000 tonnes of cumin seed annually. The total quantity is met through import - mainly from Turkey, India, Syria and Iran.
Besides, medium quality lentil prices showed a further hike by Tk 10 a kg, and the spice was sold at Tk 120-125 a kg on Monday.
Meanwhile, ginger prices declined to Tk 170-220 a kg from Tk 260-300 a kg, thanks to rise in its supply.
Loose palm oil and soybean oil prices also witnessed a slight decline by Tk 2.0 a litre.
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