FE Report
Egg prices increased by Tk 1 per piece while prices of a few varieties of rice decreased at the wholesale and retail levels on Friday, traders said.
Prices of some vegetables, garlic and chilli increased but ginger prices remained static maintaining the higher price range, they said.
Rice price has started to reduce, with many of the varieties including Brridhan-28, Shwarna, Paajam, Pariza and Hybrid decreasing by Tk 1-3 per kg in a week.
But rice of finest varieties-Miniket and Najirshail-continues to be pricier and sold at Tk48-54 and Tk52-57 per kg respectively in the city.
Prices of different qualities of Brridhan-28, the most popular rice variety, reduced to Tk 40-44 per kg from Tk44-46 per kg seven days back. Different qualities of Pajaam rice prices declined by Tk2-3 per kg in the week just gone by and were sold at Tk 36-42 per kg.
Shwarna price decreased to Tk34-35 per kg-a Tk 1 reduction in a week. Hybrid rice was available at Tk33-34 per kg in many markets.
"New rice (rice of the current boro season) has arrived in the wholesales which helped reduce the price," Md Ibrahim, a retailer at Nowabganjbazar, said.
However, wholesalers said the prices reduced significantly in the mill-gates in rural areas following the beginning of boro harvest, which helped cut prices.
According to the Bangladesh Auto, Major Husking Mills Owners' Association, different varieties of rice prices reduced by Tk 5-6 per kg at mill gates in the last one and half weeks.
After maintaining a lower price range for last couple of months, egg prices witnessed more than a 14.33 per cent hike in the market.
Prices increased by Tk1 per price both at wholesale and retail and was sold at Tk8 (farm) and Tk9 (Pakistani and duck) per piece at retail from Tk7 and Tk8 respectively seven days back.
Wholesale prices of farm chicken egg recorded at Tk700-750 per 100 pieces, Pakistani chicken egg at Tk800-850 and duck egg at Tk775-825 per 100 pieces-Tk100 increase in a week.
Abul Barik, a wholesaler at Tejgaon area, told the FE that the prices increased significantly at farm level.
He said: "From my observation, the prices will remain higher for next two months and it will reduce again in month of Ramadan when the demand for egg usually declines."
Ginger prices were static with maintaining the higher range. Local variety was sold at Tk160-180 per kg while imported Chinese varieties were seen at only few vendors' hands which were sold at Tk220 per kg.
Garlic and chilli prices increased by Tk10 per kg and were sold at Tk70-80 and Tk60-65 per kg respectively on Friday.
Prices of ridge gourd, bitter gourd, tomato, cucumber and few leaf vegetable prices increased by Tk4-10 per kg or per bunch in a week.
Prices of other major commodities including meat, fish, milk, pulses, sugar, salt, flour, spices (excluding chilli, garlic), tea etc were stable last week compared with a week ago.
