Spice prices spiralling ahead of Eid

FE Report The prices of all spices remained high despite adequate supply at the city's kitchen market just two days before the Eid-ul-Azha, traders said Friday. As a number of people have already left the capital city to celebrate the religious festival with their near and dear ones, the fish and vegetables markets were dotted with a smaller number of customers, but the spice markets were swarmed with people. According to traders, the demand for spices that remains at a nominal level round the year skyrockets ahead of Eid. Traders at city's Shayambazar said that at present the stock of onion, garlic and ginger is sufficient due to good harvest of local varieties and adequate import. On Friday, small, medium and big-sized cardamom ranged between Tk 1800-2500 per kg. Clove ranged between Tk 1800 and Tk 2000 per kg, cinnamon was sold at Tk 280-320 per kg and cumin seed at Tk 480-500 per kg. Turmeric retailed at Tk 240-260 per kg, dry chili at Tk 180-260 per kg ahead of Eid. Friday at the retail level market prices showed that per kg of locally produced onion was sold between Tk 35 and Tk 38 while the imported category was at Tk 32 to Tk 35.Garlic was sold between Tk 55 to Tk 60 and ginger at Tk 75 to Tk 80. Sugar was traded at Tk 60-65 while packed was sold between Tk 68 and Tk 70. Per litre of soybean was sold between Tk 118 and Tk 120. Five litre canned of different brands such as 'Teer' and 'Rupchanda' were sold between Tk 580 and Tk 600. They said the prices of winter vegetables and fish were still high despite an increase in supply at the city's kitchen market Friday. The retailers said as they had to purchase commodities with high prices from the wholesalers so they were compelled to charge higher prices to ensure minimum profit. Najirshail variety of rice depending on quality was sold between Tk 48 and Tk 54, minicate between Tk 46 and Tk 50, BR-28 between Tk 38 and Tk 40 and coarse rice between Tk 28 and Tk 30. Loose ata was sold between Tk 28 and Tk 30 per kg while two-kg packed was sold between Tk 62 and Tk 65. Brinjal was sold between Tk 40 and Tk 45 per kg, cucumber between Tk 30 and Tk 35, tomato between Tk 70 and Tk 100, ladies finger between Tk 45 and Tk 50, green papaya between Tk 18 and Tk 20 and potato at Tk 16. But per kg of green chilli was sold between Tk 180- 200 per kg which was Tk 100 and Tk 120 last week. Per kg of ruhi fish was sold between Tk 240 and Tk 280 and a medium size of hilsha fish was sold between Tk 450 and Tk 500. Per kg of beef was sold at Tk 260-270 and mutton was sold between Tk 380 and Tk 400 while broiler chicken was sold at Tk110-115 per kg down from Tk 125 per kg.