Spices go dearer in local markets
Friday, 28 August 2009
Monira Begum Munni
Prices of spices have sharply increased in the local markets as their demand has gone up with beginning of Ramadan month.
Spices have become dearer also because of the price hike in the international markets, market sources said.
"Since the weather condition of Bangladesh is not suitable for spice cultivation, the country is totally dependent on import of the items," Moulvi Bazar Malik Samity President Abdul Enayet Ullah told the FE.
The import duty and the freight charges were also increased recently pushing up the prices of spices in the local markets, he added.
Traders mainly import different varieties of spices from China, Pakistan, India, Guatemala, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Vietnam and Zanzibar, he said.
Traders said at the wholesale level cardamom was selling at Tk 1200-Tk 1400 per kg compared with its last year's price at Tk 600-Tk 900 per kg.
Cinnamon was selling at Tk 180-Tk 200 per kg compared with its previous rates at Tk 120-Tk 130 per kg.
Cumin seeds was selling at Tk 260-Tk 340 per kg against Tk 180-Tk 220 previously.
Clove was selling at Tk 650-Tk 700 per kg compared with its previous rates at Tk 480, traders said.
Pesta was selling at Tk 800 per kg while Jatrik was selling at Tk 720 per kg, traders said.
At the retail level, some major spice items, including cardamom was selling at Tk 1300-Tk 1600 per kg, cinnamon at Tk 220-Tk 250 per kg, cumin seeds at Tk 320-Tk 400 per kg and clove at Tk 700- Tk 800 per kg, traders said.
Importers said the annual consumption of cumin seeds in the country is around 20,000 tonnes, cardamom 2,000 tonnes and cinnamon 10,000 tonnes.
Prices of spices have sharply increased in the local markets as their demand has gone up with beginning of Ramadan month.
Spices have become dearer also because of the price hike in the international markets, market sources said.
"Since the weather condition of Bangladesh is not suitable for spice cultivation, the country is totally dependent on import of the items," Moulvi Bazar Malik Samity President Abdul Enayet Ullah told the FE.
The import duty and the freight charges were also increased recently pushing up the prices of spices in the local markets, he added.
Traders mainly import different varieties of spices from China, Pakistan, India, Guatemala, Iran, Syria, Turkey, Vietnam and Zanzibar, he said.
Traders said at the wholesale level cardamom was selling at Tk 1200-Tk 1400 per kg compared with its last year's price at Tk 600-Tk 900 per kg.
Cinnamon was selling at Tk 180-Tk 200 per kg compared with its previous rates at Tk 120-Tk 130 per kg.
Cumin seeds was selling at Tk 260-Tk 340 per kg against Tk 180-Tk 220 previously.
Clove was selling at Tk 650-Tk 700 per kg compared with its previous rates at Tk 480, traders said.
Pesta was selling at Tk 800 per kg while Jatrik was selling at Tk 720 per kg, traders said.
At the retail level, some major spice items, including cardamom was selling at Tk 1300-Tk 1600 per kg, cinnamon at Tk 220-Tk 250 per kg, cumin seeds at Tk 320-Tk 400 per kg and clove at Tk 700- Tk 800 per kg, traders said.
Importers said the annual consumption of cumin seeds in the country is around 20,000 tonnes, cardamom 2,000 tonnes and cinnamon 10,000 tonnes.