Hilsa hits a new high ahead of Pahela Baishakh
Saturday, 10 April 2010
FE Report
The price of Hilsa fish has skyrocketed in the city markets on high demand.
Hilsa that tastes excellent if taken with 'panta bhat', the most popular dish of 'Pahela Baishakh', has already hit its peak on high demand, trading sources said.
A larger size of Hilsa - the national fish -- was selling between Tk 2000 and Tk 2,500 on Friday at the city's Malibagh kitchen market while the price of a small Hilsa was varying between Tk 500 and Tk 1000 per piece.
However, prices of Hilsa varied from one market to another, market sources said.
Prices of Hilsa fish were less than half of the present prices just a week back, market sources said, adding the fish prices continued to rise by Tk 200 to Tk 400 per piece each day over the last couple of days.
They, however, predicted a further rise in prices of Hilsa in the days ahead.
A panic buying coupled with an off-seasonal supply shortage of Hilsa was blamed for such unusual price hike.
"Usually, the prices of Hilsa fish soar on the occasion of the Pahela Baishakh but an inadequate supply has contributed more to this year's price situation," a fish trader told the FE, adding that higher demand for the tasty fish was also responsible for the price hike.
A section of consumers prefer an early purchase of the fish for the New Year celebration in fear of further hike, said the trader.
Prices of most other fishes have also been on maintained their previous high in the city markets during the last week.
Prices of different kinds of small fish had increased by almost Tk 100 per kg on an average a coupled of weeks ago mainly because of short supply, traders claimed.
A medium size of local 'ruhi' fish was selling between Tk 250 and Tk 350 per kg while that of 'katla' fish were ranging between Tk 200 and Tk 300 per kg compared to their previous prices of Tk 200-Tk 250 and Tk 180-250 per kg respectively.
Meanwhile, prices of different kinds of vegetables and eggs registered an upward trend in the city markets while that of spices like garlic and ginger remained unchanged at their previous high in the last week.
Price of brinjal increased to Tk24-Tk28 per kg from its last week's prices of Tk 20-24, tomato to Tk 14-16 per kg from Tk 12-Tk 14 and 'korolla' to Tk 28-Tk 30 from Tk 24-Tk 28 at the retail levels.
Prices of some other vegetables including potato remained almost static during the last week.
The local variety of ginger was selling at Tk 90 to Tk 100 per kg against the previous rate of Tk 90 per kg while the imported ginger also rose to Tk 110 per kg against Tk 100 per kg, market sources said.
However, prices of both local and imported garlic also rose to Tk 105-Tk 110 per kg from the previous price of Tk 90 per kg while the price of its local variety also increased to Tk 80-Tk 120 per kg from Tk 70-Tk 90 one week back.
Prices of rice, pulses, sugar and wheat flower also remained more or less unchanged in the city market in the last week.
The minicate variety of rice was selling at Tk 42 per kg and Nazirshail at Tk 40-Tk 46 per kg.
Course rice including Pari, Swarna and IRRI was selling at Tk 30 per kg, and BR-28 at Tk 35 per kg.
On the other hand, prices of firmed eggs went up to Tk 28 per four for the last few days compared to Tk 26 more than a week back.
The price of Hilsa fish has skyrocketed in the city markets on high demand.
Hilsa that tastes excellent if taken with 'panta bhat', the most popular dish of 'Pahela Baishakh', has already hit its peak on high demand, trading sources said.
A larger size of Hilsa - the national fish -- was selling between Tk 2000 and Tk 2,500 on Friday at the city's Malibagh kitchen market while the price of a small Hilsa was varying between Tk 500 and Tk 1000 per piece.
However, prices of Hilsa varied from one market to another, market sources said.
Prices of Hilsa fish were less than half of the present prices just a week back, market sources said, adding the fish prices continued to rise by Tk 200 to Tk 400 per piece each day over the last couple of days.
They, however, predicted a further rise in prices of Hilsa in the days ahead.
A panic buying coupled with an off-seasonal supply shortage of Hilsa was blamed for such unusual price hike.
"Usually, the prices of Hilsa fish soar on the occasion of the Pahela Baishakh but an inadequate supply has contributed more to this year's price situation," a fish trader told the FE, adding that higher demand for the tasty fish was also responsible for the price hike.
A section of consumers prefer an early purchase of the fish for the New Year celebration in fear of further hike, said the trader.
Prices of most other fishes have also been on maintained their previous high in the city markets during the last week.
Prices of different kinds of small fish had increased by almost Tk 100 per kg on an average a coupled of weeks ago mainly because of short supply, traders claimed.
A medium size of local 'ruhi' fish was selling between Tk 250 and Tk 350 per kg while that of 'katla' fish were ranging between Tk 200 and Tk 300 per kg compared to their previous prices of Tk 200-Tk 250 and Tk 180-250 per kg respectively.
Meanwhile, prices of different kinds of vegetables and eggs registered an upward trend in the city markets while that of spices like garlic and ginger remained unchanged at their previous high in the last week.
Price of brinjal increased to Tk24-Tk28 per kg from its last week's prices of Tk 20-24, tomato to Tk 14-16 per kg from Tk 12-Tk 14 and 'korolla' to Tk 28-Tk 30 from Tk 24-Tk 28 at the retail levels.
Prices of some other vegetables including potato remained almost static during the last week.
The local variety of ginger was selling at Tk 90 to Tk 100 per kg against the previous rate of Tk 90 per kg while the imported ginger also rose to Tk 110 per kg against Tk 100 per kg, market sources said.
However, prices of both local and imported garlic also rose to Tk 105-Tk 110 per kg from the previous price of Tk 90 per kg while the price of its local variety also increased to Tk 80-Tk 120 per kg from Tk 70-Tk 90 one week back.
Prices of rice, pulses, sugar and wheat flower also remained more or less unchanged in the city market in the last week.
The minicate variety of rice was selling at Tk 42 per kg and Nazirshail at Tk 40-Tk 46 per kg.
Course rice including Pari, Swarna and IRRI was selling at Tk 30 per kg, and BR-28 at Tk 35 per kg.
On the other hand, prices of firmed eggs went up to Tk 28 per four for the last few days compared to Tk 26 more than a week back.