Fishes pricier, edible oil, local onion still high

Edible oil and local onion prices are still at a high level, while fish prices witnessed another round of hike in the city kitchen markets, augmenting sufferings of the already-battered commoners.
Indigenous rui was selling at Tk 600-1,150 a kg, depending on size and quality, with Tk 150-250 a kg further surge in a week.
Riverine katla also witnessed Tk 100-200 a kg hike. Indigenous shrimps were sold at Tk 850-1,350 a kg. Shol price jumped to Tk 600-800 a kg.
Some cultured fish prices remained static at their previous high, as rui and katla were selling at Tk 360-500 a kg on Friday. Pangas and telapia prices also remained stable.
But cultured golsha and pabda were sold at Tk 550-700, marking Tk 50 a kg surge, according to retail fish vendors at Rayer Bazar, Segun Bagicha Bazar and Dhupkhola Bazar in the city.
Low catch in the rivers, high cost for 'block ice' to preserve fish amid load-shedding, and ongoing fishing ban on the Bay caused the heavy price surge of fishes for the last one month, said Ajibor Hossain, a Shymabazar-based wholesaler.
The President of Karwan Bazar Fish Wholesalers Association told the FE that catch in the rivers declined by 50-60 per cent in this May-June compared to the same period of last year.
The hilsa season has started, but there is hardly any supply from the Padma. Fish prices might decline, if hilsa catching increases notably in the coming days.
The prices might decline to some extent with the end of the fishing ban from July 31, he added.
Meanwhile, prices of imported onion showed a declining trend in the city markets, but local variety was sold at Tk 70-85 a kg.
Imported Indian onion was retailed at Tk 45-55 a kg, marking Tk 20-25 a kg plunge in a week due to import of cheap onion from India.
Soybean and palm oil were still selling at higher rates, although the government reduced their prices a few days back.
The Ministry of Commerce revised the branded soybean oil price downward by Tk 10 to Tk 189 a litre on June 11 following a notable fall of its price in the global market.
Loose soybean oil price was fixed at Tk 167 a litre form Tk 177, while palm oil retail price was set at Tk 132 a litre from Tk 135.
But bottled soybean was sold at Tk 198-199 a litre, as most grocers were 'yet to get new bottles' from distributors. Loose soybean oil was selling at Tk 175-182 a litre, defying the government rates, according to kitchen market sources.

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