Prices up and down in Dhaka\\\'s retail, wholesale markets

The prices of essential items, including cardamoms, cumins and cloves were up, while that of onions and green chillis slid, in retail markets of Dhaka city two days ahead of Holy Eid-ul-Azha. Spices were selling at higher prices than usual in the kitchen markets of capital on Wednesday. These necessities were selling at exorbitant prices at Moulvibazar, Shantinagar, Malibagh and Rampura bazaars. However, the wholesalers at Dhaka’s Moulvibazar, a key wholesale spice market in the city, are blaming the retailers for the price hike. Wholesalers are saying that the supply of all varieties of spices is normal, so there can be no reason for their prices to rise.
The retailers on the other hand, allege the wholesalers formed a syndicate and raised the prices to make some extra profit ahead Eid-ul-Azha. According to the traders, cardamom price hiked most by Tk180-Tk 250 per kg comparing to last month. Imported cardamom (big) from India’s Kerala and Tamil Nadu is now selling at Tk 1500-1700 per kg as against Tk 1400-1500 a month before while Guatemala cardamom (small) is selling at Tk 1150-1300 per kg. Prices of black and white pepper, cassia leaf, ginger, coriander, nutmeg and garlic have edged up marginally compared to last month.
Kamal Hazi, a retailer from city’s Malibagh kitchen market said that per kg cinnamon is selling at Tk 260-280; cumin Tk 320-380 which was Tk 20-30 less two weeks ago; clove at Tk 1150-1300; black pepper varies from Tk 1100-1200 and white pepper at Tk 1500-1650; cassia leaf at Tk 230 and coriander is selling at Tk 120-140 which was Tk 30 less last month. Alubukhara is selling at Tk 380-440 per kg while raisin is selling at Tk 350-1200 depending on quality. Saffron, the most expensive spice in the world, is selling at Tk 300-320 per gram, a hike of about Tk 70.
Local onion has seen sold between Tk 70-75 per kg, less than Tk 10-15 from the previous week, while imported onion is retailing between Tk 55-Tk 60 per kg. Besides, Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has started selling onions across the country at Tk 50 per kg through open truck sale from September 15. Local garlic price increased by Tk 15-20 this week to sell at Tk 80-100, while imported garlic is priced at Tk 110-120, up from its usual Tk 95-100.
Meanwhile, local ginger price also has risen by Tk 20-30 per kg to sell at Tk 90-110.
The price of green chili reduced by almost one-third after it suddenly rose to Tk 250-300 per kg 10 days ago. Now it is available within a saner range of Tk 70-120 per kg. Talking about green chili price, a retailer Ramzan, who is selling only green chili from a van in city’s Rampura area, said: “Recent rain-fed floods in many parts of the country destroyed plenty of green chili fields as chili plants go rotten due to water logging.  Now the farmers recovered the crisis and started cultivating new batch of green chili.”
Retail price of per kg Indian turmeric is Tk 155-160, while local one is selling Tk 15-20 higher than that. Powdered chili in kitchen markets is selling at Tk 170 per kg. Moreover, some people grind their own dry chili and turmeric, which is estimated to cost Tk 30-40 less per kg.
Several traders in the city’s kitchen markets said that city dwellers at present prefer various branded, packaged spices - like powdered chili and turmeric, coriander and pepper – over the unbranded, loose ones, according to UNB.
- biplab