Prices of most spices have gradually been going up in the city markets as Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, is nearing.
The FE in its market observation has found that both the city wholesalers and retailers are responsible for the hike of spices despite having a good stock.
The prices of spices like garlic, ginger, turmeric, coriander seeds, chilli, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, cumin seed, alu bukhara, saffron, nutmeg and bay leaf have increased by 20-30 per cent in last 15 days, according to key kitchen markets.
In the city's kitchen markets, cinnamon (Syrian) was selling at Tk 320-350 against Tk 250-280 per kg two and half weeks back while cardamom of best quality at Tk 1,300-1,350 per kg against Tk 1,150-1,200, cloves at Tk 1,400-1,450 which was Tk 1,250-1,300 per kg two weeks back.
Indian cumin seed was selling at Tk 350-380 against Tk 300-320 per kg, Syrian variety at Tk 420-450 against Tk 360-380 per kg two weeks back.
Garlic of imported variety was selling at Tk 100-110 while local variety at Tk 80-90 per kg, up by Tk 30 at retail level in last two weeks.
Ginger of imported variety was priced at Tk 140-160 per kg while local at Tk 110-120 per kg---a Tk 40-50 hike during the period.
However, onion prices witnessed a slight rise (Tk 2-3 per kg) compared to that of the pre-Ramadan period.
All kinds of turmeric, coriander and chilli have witnessed Tk 20-50 hike both at wholesale and retail in last two and half weeks, according to kitchen markets including Maulovibazar, Shyambazar, Nowabganj Bazar, Newmarket Banalata Bazar, Palashi Bazar and Hatirpool Bazar.
Md Shafiq, a retailer at Nowabganj Bazar, told the FE that the prices of spices have surged in the wholesale market, forcing them to push up the prices at retail level.
He said the prices of cumin seed of Indian variety were Tk 220-230 per kg at Maulovibazar wholesale before Ramadan which has now been Tk 260-280 per kg.
He also informed the FE that if the prices of spices increase by 5 per cent at wholesale level, they might shoot up by 15-20 per cent at retail level.
Ranajit Majumder, a wholesaler at Majhirghat area in Chittagong, told the FE over cell phone that cardamom of better quality (LMG) was sold at Tk 1,025-1,030 per kg while another variety (known as YM2) at Tk 1,000-1,015 per kg in the port area---Tk 5-10 hike in last one month.
tonmoy.wardad@gamil.com
