Trade
a month ago

Weekly kitchen market: Rice, brinjal, tomato get pricier

Published :

Updated :

After remaining stable for one and a half months, rice prices have started to rise.

The prices of brinjal, tomato, and carrot also increased over the past week, while that of most other commodities remained static.

Meanwhile, traders reported that rice prices have gone up in the country's milling hubs.

According to Dhaka-based traders, rice millers raised prices after Eid-ul-Azha.

Within a week, the price of 50kg rice sacks at various mill gates has increased by Tk 150-200.

A visit to several markets in the capital on Friday revealed that compared to pre-Eid levels, rice is now being sold at Tk 2.0 to 4.0 higher per kg.

Currently, the retail price of coarse rice is Tk 55-56 per kg, medium-grade BRRI dhan-28 Tk 60-65 per kg, finer miniket or zirashail Tk 75-80 per kg, and nazirshail Tk 78-85 per kg.

Ahmed Ali, a grocer at Rayer Bazar, said, "Since reopening after Eid a week ago, every type of rice we are ordering is costing Tk 150-200 more per sack. Prices are going up in all major hubs like Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Naogaon, and Kushtia."

He said mill owners are citing an increase in paddy prices as the reason behind the hike in rice prices.

Meanwhile, some vegetables have seen a significant price hike.

Brinjal is selling at Tk 90-110 per kg, tomato at Tk 140-160 per kg, and carrot at Tk 150-160 per kg, marking an increase of Tk 20-40 per kg.

Most other vegetables' prices have remained stable between Tk 50-80 per kg.

Vegetable vendor Hajrat Ali said the peak harvest season for summer brinjal would start next month, and the price would likely stay high until then.

He said it is currently off-season for tomato and carrot, and winter stocks are nearly depleted.

On the other hand, the prices of chicken, eggs, and several other products have remained stable since Eid.

Over a week, broiler chicken prices have come down to Tk 160-170 per kg, and eggs are selling at Tk 130-135 per dozen - a drop of Tk 10-15 per unit for both items.

Buyer presence in Dhaka markets remains low after Eid, as many households still have meat from cattle sacrificed during Eid-ul-Azha.

As a result, the demand for eggs and chicken is down, said traders.

The price of sonali chicken has fallen to Tk 270-290 per kg, Tk 30-40 a kg decline since Eid.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com

Share this news