Soyabean oil crisis persists in capital, flour prices rise

The crisis of bottled soyabean oil in the retail markets of the capital has not yet eased. Half-litre and one-litre bottled oil are unavailable in many shops. Where available, mainly two-litre and five-litre bottles are being sold. Meanwhile, the price of bottled soyabean oil per litre has risen by Tk 5 to Tk 204.

This information was gathered by speaking with customers and sellers after visiting various markets in the capital on Friday, September 18. Alongside oil, the prices of flour and atta have also increased over the past month. On the other hand, while some vegetable prices remain high, egg and some chicken prices have decreased somewhat. No major change was seen in the fish market.

Retail sellers and wholesale suppliers said that even after the edible oil price hike on September 2, supply to the market has not fully normalised. They alleged that refiners are releasing comparatively less bottled soyabean oil. In particular, the supply of half-litre and one-litre bottles is very low.

Sellers said that despite repeatedly urging distributors, adequate oil is not available. Currently, only two or three companies are supplying bottled soyabean oil to the market, and mostly two-litre and five-litre bottles are available. As a result, customers have to visit multiple shops to buy one litre of oil. Many are being forced to buy bottles of a larger quantity than needed.

A customer at Newmarket said he could not find one-litre soyabean oil even after visiting several shops. In the end, he had to buy a two-litre bottle. As a result, he had to return home without doing his other necessary shopping.

Due to the supply crisis, many retailers are now selling open soyabean oil. Meanwhile, at the new rates, bottled soyabean oil is being sold at Tk 204 per litre, Tk 408 for two litres and Tk 1,020 for five litres.

After oil, atta and flour have created additional pressure on the market. According to daily market price data from the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), over the past month, the price of open atta has increased by Tk 3 per kg and the price of open and packaged flour by Tk 5 per kg. However, these products have been seen selling at even higher prices in the retail market.

Visiting the market, it was seen that open atta is being sold at Tk 50 per kg. A month ago, its price was Tk 45. Open flour is now Tk 65 to Tk 70 per kg, which was previously Tk 55 to Tk 60. The prices of packaged flour of various brands have also increased. A two-kg packet of flour is now being sold at Tk 160 to Tk 170.

A grocery shopkeeper at Newmarket said that although he used to buy a 50-kg sack of flour for Tk 2,500 earlier, it became Tk 2,800 last week. He said prices have increased at the wholesale and dealer levels, forcing retailers to sell at higher prices.

In the vegetable market, the prices of several products have also created extra pressure on customers. Per kg shim is selling at Tk 240, round brinjal at Tk 140, tomato at Tk 100 and green chilli at Tk 200. Borboti is selling at Tk 100, jhinga and chichinga at Tk 60, dhundul and korola at Tk 80, and potol and dhyarosh at Tk 70 per kg. Cucumber is selling at Tk 80, sweet pumpkin at Tk 60, bottle gourd at Tk 50 to Tk 70 per piece and raw banana at Tk 40 per hali. Papaya is selling at a comparatively lower price of Tk 30 per kg.

Sellers said that recent rains damaged various vegetables, reducing supply to the wholesale market. As a result, the prices of some vegetables have increased. In particular, the price of shim is high as its season has not fully begun. They expect prices to fall as supply increases once the weather normalises.

However, not all product prices have risen. Within a week, egg prices have decreased somewhat to Tk 140 to Tk 145 per dozen. Last week, a dozen eggs sold for Tk 150 to Tk 155.

There has also been some relief in the chicken market. While broiler chicken prices remain unchanged at Tk 190 per kg, the prices of sonali, hybrid and layer chickens have decreased by Tk 10 per kg. Sonali chicken is selling at Tk 310 to Tk 320, hybrid at Tk 290 to Tk 300 and layer at Tk 350 per kg. Beef is selling at the same price of Tk 800 per kg.

No major fluctuations were seen in the fish market. The prices of some fish increased by Tk 20 to Tk 30 per kg, while some decreased by Tk 10 to Tk 20. Farmed pangash is selling at Tk 230 per kg, tilapia at Tk 260, pabda at Tk 350 to Tk 450, large rui at Tk 450 to Tk 500 and tangra at Tk 700. Prawns are selling at Tk 800 to Tk 900 depending on size, bhetki at Tk 400 to Tk 550, mrigel at Tk 250 to Tk 300 and deshi koi at Tk 600 to Tk 800 per kg. Farmed koi is selling at Tk 260, farmed shing at Tk 300 to Tk 450 and medium-sized rui at Tk 270 to Tk 350 per kg.