Millers at a meeting on Thursday decided to sell salt at Tk 38 per kilogram (kg) instead of Tk 40 at retail level following the government directives, sources said.
The new price chart will come into effect soon. And the millers have already informed Bangladesh Tariff Commission (BTC) about the decision.
"We have decided to reduce the price of edible salt from Tk 40 to Tk 38 per kg. We have informed the BTC about the matter," general manager (GM) of Molla Salt Md Abdul Mannan told the FE.
The prices of salt have recently increased from Tk 30-32 to Tk 40 per kg, causing concern among the consumers and the government.
And amidst the price hike, the ministry of commerce (MoC) has allowed salt traders to import 150,000 tonnes of crude salt aiming to tame the volatile market and keep its prices stable.
A total of 241 traders have been allowed to import crude salt. Each of them can import over 620 tonnes of crude salt, according to the sector insiders.
Earlier, the ministry of commerce (MoC) at a meeting with the millers on Wednesday urged them to review the prices.
"We have directed the millers to bring down salt prices at a rational level considering the consumers' interest," senior secretary of the MoC Hedayetullah Al Mamoon told the FE.
He hinted that if necessary, the government might allow the traders to import 0.1 million tonnes more crude salt to keep its prices stable in the local market.
A section of dishonest traders usually push up salt prices during the Eid-ul-Azha as the item is used for preserving rawhide of sacrificial animals.
Even after taking the decision by the millers, most of the retailers in city's different kitchen markets were selling salt at Tk 40 per kg on the day.
While talking to the FE, the retailers at Fakirapool kitchen market said they would sell salt at Tk 38 per kg if they get salt at reduced rates from the millers.
An official of a leading salt mill/market player who deals with marketing affairs told the FE that they would enforce the decision for the sake of public interest.
The annual demand for salt in the country is around two million tonnes. The production of salt this year was around 1.5 million tonnes, according the millers. Salt is produced during the period between January and May.
Molla, Pubali, Modhumati, Fresh, Super Crystal and ACI are the big market players of salt.
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