Dates to be cheaper this Ramadan
Sunday, 26 July 2009
FE Report
The sweet desert fruit- dates- a popular Iftar item, will be sold 25 per cent cheaper this year during Ramadan because of adequate stock and fall in international market price, importers told the FE Saturday.
Traders said they have currently a stock of around 45,000 tonnes and another 10,000 tonnes are in the pipeline. The net demand for the item is around 55,000 tonnes during the holy month of Ramadan in the country.
Importers said the end users might purchase date during this Ramadan between Tk 55 and Tk 60 per kilogram against Tk 80 in the previous year.
"We have enough stock and the item is cheaper this season following good harvest in the date growing countries," Sadhan Chandra, a leading date importer and owner of Mishu Traders told the FE.
The prices of dates in the international market ranged between US$200 and $240 per tonne against $300 and $350 a tonne depending on the quality.
Traders usually import the item during December-January period soon after harvest.
Zahedi of Iran and Dubbas of United Arab Emirates are popular varieties consumed by the local people.
Besides, traders also import a large quantity of cheap dates from Pakistan.
However, importers said they would sell the item between Tk 42 and Tk 44 a kilogram at wholesale level.
Md Serajul Islam, another importer said global recession is also an important factor behind price fall in international the market.
He said there is need for government intervention so that retailers cannot make windfall profits taking advantage of the demand for the item during Ramadan.
The sweet desert fruit- dates- a popular Iftar item, will be sold 25 per cent cheaper this year during Ramadan because of adequate stock and fall in international market price, importers told the FE Saturday.
Traders said they have currently a stock of around 45,000 tonnes and another 10,000 tonnes are in the pipeline. The net demand for the item is around 55,000 tonnes during the holy month of Ramadan in the country.
Importers said the end users might purchase date during this Ramadan between Tk 55 and Tk 60 per kilogram against Tk 80 in the previous year.
"We have enough stock and the item is cheaper this season following good harvest in the date growing countries," Sadhan Chandra, a leading date importer and owner of Mishu Traders told the FE.
The prices of dates in the international market ranged between US$200 and $240 per tonne against $300 and $350 a tonne depending on the quality.
Traders usually import the item during December-January period soon after harvest.
Zahedi of Iran and Dubbas of United Arab Emirates are popular varieties consumed by the local people.
Besides, traders also import a large quantity of cheap dates from Pakistan.
However, importers said they would sell the item between Tk 42 and Tk 44 a kilogram at wholesale level.
Md Serajul Islam, another importer said global recession is also an important factor behind price fall in international the market.
He said there is need for government intervention so that retailers cannot make windfall profits taking advantage of the demand for the item during Ramadan.