Sale of electrical appliances like fans, air conditioners (ACs), refrigerators and instant power supply (IPS) systems increased by about 70 per cent in the last three weeks due to hot weather, industry insiders said.
Increasing demand also caused a price hike of the products, according to sources at different showrooms in the city.
Insiders said the customers are showing a growing interest about locally-manufactured electrical products as some local companies are providing world standard products at very affordable prices.
During a visit to different showrooms and outlets of electrical and electronic goods in the capital, it was found that sale of refrigerators rose in March-April compared to the previous months. Shop owners expected that the sale of refrigerators will further increase this month.
Malibagh Walton Plaza manager Abdul Baten told the FE, "At the beginning of summer season, demand and sale of all kinds of electrical appliances including refrigerators have increased significantly."
He said generally, the heat of summer season makes peoples' lives unbearable, creating increased need for cool drinking water and fresh food. So, refrigerator sales certainly increase in summer months.
He said in the last one month sale of fans, ACs and IPSs have surged more than 70 per cent due mainly to the scorching summer.
SK Electrics owner Tabebur Rahman told the FE, "The manufacturers have hiked fan prices simultaneously by Tk300 to Tk350 with the advent of summer."
The Mirpur outlet owner said the prices of ceiling fans increased by 20 to 25 per cent and the prices of table and stand fan increased by Tk250 to Tk300 per unit in the last one month.
Bengal Electric sales officer Rubel Rana told the FE at present a 56-inch fan of Super Star was selling at Stadium Market in the city at Tk 2,900 from Tk 2,600 and Sonali Fan was selling at Tk 2,450 from Tk 2,500 on the retail market.
Bangladesh Electrical Merchandise Manufacturers' Association (BEMMA) President Enayet Hossain Chowdhury told the FE, "The price of electronic raw material has increased in recent times. So the price of fans, ACs and IPSs increased by 15 to 20 per cent."
He said the local manufacturers' capacity has been increasing and now more then 80 per cent of domestic demand for fans is met with local products.
According to BEMMA data there are some 70 to 80 local companies that manufacture fans while 15 to 20 different brands are being imported in the country.
It also said some 15 of them are Pakistani brands which dominate the fan market in Bangladesh. India and China also export fans to Bangladesh.
Sale of electrical appliances jumps by 70pc
Shah Alam Nur | Published: April 06, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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