Prices of flour and refined flour have risen again in the market for essential commodities. Within a month, prices of both loose and packaged flour and refined flour have increased significantly.
Retailers selling these products at higher prices due to price hikes in the wholesale market. Alongside flour and refined flour, prices of broiler chickens, eggs, and fish are also under upward pressure.
Sellers say that prices of chicken and eggs are not falling because production has declined and supplies are insufficient to meet demand. However, some relief comes from the fact that vegetable prices remain stable, as they were previously.
The information surfaced after visiting several kitchen markets in the capital and talks with consumers and traders on Thursday.
The government agency Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has recorded increases in the prices of flour and refined flour in its daily market-price list. According to TCB, over the past month, the price of loose flour has increased by Tk 3 per kilogram, while the prices of both loose and packaged refined flour have increased by Tk 5 per kilogram.
However, flour and refined flour were found to be selling at somewhat higher prices in the market. According to retailers, over the past month the price of loose flour has increased by Tk 5 per kilogram, while the price of both loose and packaged refined flour has increased by Tk 10 per kilogram at the retail level.
A visit to three retail markets in the capital found that grocery stores were selling loose flour at Tk 50 per kilogram. Previously, flour was Tk 45 per kilogram.
Sellers were charging Tk 65–70 per kilogram for loose refined flour. About a month ago, loose refined flour was priced at Tk 55–60 per kilogram.
Various brands of packaged flour and refined flour are available in the market. Currently, a two-kilogram packet of refined flour is being sold for Tk 160–170, bringing the price to Tk 80–85 per kilogram. A month ago, packaged refined flour cost Tk 70–75 per kilogram.
Humayun Kabir, a grocery shopkeeper at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said, “Previously, I bought a 50-kilogram sack of refined flour for Tk 2,500. Last week, the price increased to Tk 2,800. In this way, flour and refined flour have become more expensive at the wholesale and dealer levels. As a result, I am also selling them at higher prices.”
Meanwhile, citing increases in the prices of flour and other raw materials, traders raised the prices of bread and various bakery products last Saturday. Following this, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir held a meeting with business leaders in the sector on Tuesday.
At the meeting, it was decided that the costs of producing and marketing bakery products would be reviewed. Subsequently, traders agreed to temporarily suspend their decision to increase the prices of bread and biscuits.
Chicken and egg prices have not fallen
Farm-raised chicken and eggs are being sold at relatively high prices in the market. On Thursday, broiler chickens were selling for Tk 190–200 per kilogram. A month and a half ago, the price of broiler chicken was Tk 20 lower per kilogram. Before that, however, broiler chicken had been sold for Tk 140–150 per kilogram.
Currently, a dozen brown farm eggs cost Tk 150 in the market. White eggs are available for Tk 10 less per dozen. Eggs were being sold at the same price even a month and a half ago.
Yesterday, Sonali chicken was selling for Tk 340–360 per kilogram. Hybrid, or Colorbird Sonali, chicken was priced at Tk 300–330 per kilogram. The prices of these chickens have also not fallen over the past one to two weeks.
Normally, chicken prices fluctuate over the course of weeks or months depending on supply. This time, however, the price of broiler chicken has remained at roughly the same level for nearly a month and a half.
Sellers said that over the past five to six months, flooding, excessive rainfall, and heat have reduced the number of laying hens and broiler chickens at many farms. As a result, overall supply has fallen short, preventing the prices of eggs and chicken from declining.
A survey of the markets also found that the prices of fish such as rohu, tilapia, pangas, and pabda have remained relatively high. Yesterday, rohu weighing 2.5–3 kilograms was selling for Tk 400–420 per kilogram, while katla was priced at Tk 420–440 per kilogram.
In addition, depending on size, farmed pangas was selling for Tk 250–300 per kilogram, tilapia for Tk 250–280, and pabda for Tk 400–450 per kilogram.
Meanwhile, the shortage of bottled soybean oil in the capital’s retail markets has yet to ease. Many grocery stores are still unable to supply the oil. Even when it is available at a few shops, only two- or five-liter bottles can generally be found. Half-liter and one-liter bottles are almost nowhere to be seen.
Retailers and wholesale oil suppliers say edible oil companies last raised prices on September 2. Despite the price hike, however, they have yet to restore normal supply. Essentially, edible oil refiners are releasing less bottled soybean oil into the market.
