Sunday, 09 March, 2025
As Ramadan draws near, the market reveals a mix of trends—while some essentials see price hikes, others remain relatively stable.
Data from Bangladesh Bank reveals a 20-64 percent surge in the import of key Ramadan commodities this year, a move that has helped cushion the impact of rising demand. Between October and January, sugar imports reached 454,034 tonnes, up 20 percent from a year earlier.
Shoppers and traders report that key Ramadan staples, including dates, chickpeas, various lentils, gram flour, and sugar, continue to maintain stable prices and consistent availability.
However, the situation differs for fresh produce, with prices for items like lemons, cucumbers, and eggplants rising, as well as for fish and meat.
A key concern remains soybean oil, particularly the bottled variety, which has been in short supply for over a month—an issue yet to be resolved even as Ramadan nears.
Despite assurances from the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association to improve availability by Wednesday, the market remains largely unchanged.
Traders credit the relative price stability of many other essentials to increased imports.
Central bank data shows that Soybean oil imports saw a significant rise of 34 percent, reaching 598,252 tonnes during the same period.
Lentil imports surged by 44 percent, totaling 157,837 tonnes, while chickpea imports climbed by 64 percent to 97,555 tonnes. Onions saw a 2 percent increase in imports, garlic rose by 20 percent, ginger by 56 percent, and dates by 23 percent.
Chickpeas are currently priced between Tk 110-120 per kg, which remains unchanged from last Ramadan.
In Dhaka's markets, eggplants are priced at Tk 40-50 per kg, while gram flour is being sold for Tk 120-140 per kg.
A market survey conducted across Malibagh, Jatrabari, Kaptan Bazar, Shantinagar, Karwan Bazar, and Mohakhali kitchen markets revealed that imported white sugar is priced at Tk 120 per kg, while brown sugar costs between Tk 140-145 per kg.
At Karwan Bazar, most wholesale traders are selling puffed rice at Tk 80 per kg.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), chickpeas were priced between Tk 110-120 per kg on Thursday, compared to Tk 95-110 a year ago.
Anchor lentils were priced between Tk 60-80 per kg, depending on quality, while last year, they ranged from Tk 75-80 per kg.
Shahin Sarker of AR Raihan Enterprise in Karwan Bazar confirmed these prices for lentils and chickpeas.
Last year, importers faced a 100 percent margin requirement due to the foreign currency crisis. Frequent fluctuations in the exchange rate also contributed to the rise in costs.
To address Ramadan supply concerns, the central bank relaxed the margin requirement on imports of eight key items—chickpeas, lentils, peas, onions, edible oil, spices, sugar, and dates.
This year, importers were allowed to open letters of credit (LCs) based on bank-client relationships, without any mandatory margin, as stated by Governor Ahsan H Mansur on February 16.
MEAT AND FISH PRICES SOAR AHEAD OF RAMADAN
Meat prices, which had surged by Tk 20 to Tk 30 per kg during Shab-e-Barat before dropping a couple of days later, have risen again ahead of Ramadan.
Broiler chicken is now selling at Tk 210-230 per kg, with Sonali variety priced at Tk 330-350. Just two days ago, broiler chicken was priced between Tk 190-200 per kg, and Sonali was still within Tk 330.
Red layer chicken is being sold at Tk 300 per kg, white layer at Tk 290, and local chicken at Tk 560.
Beef has increased by Tk 40-50 per kg compared to last week, now standing at Tk 780-800 per kg.
Mutton has risen by Tk 50 per kg, now costing Tk 1,200.
Fish prices have also surged by Tk 20-30 per kg.
At the Niketan kitchen market, 500g hilsa is priced at Tk 1,000, while 700-800g costs Tk 1,500, and 1kg hilsa is being sold for Tk 2,000.
Rui fish prices have increased by Tk 20-30, now ranging from Tk 380 to Tk 450 per kg, while prawns are priced between Tk 780 and Tk 1,200.
Large katla fish is priced at Tk 350-420 per kg.
SOYA BEAN OIL CRISIS PERSISTS AHEAD OF RAMADAN
The ongoing soybean oil supply crisis, which began over a month ago, has yet to ease, even with the arrival of Ramadan.
Most of the available oil in the market is packaged in two- and five-litre bottles, leading to a surge in demand for loose soyabean oil, which is now priced between Tk 165-170 per litre.
The government-set price for bottled soyabean oil is Tk 175 per litre, with a five-litre bottle priced at Tk 850.
On February 16, the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association reassured the public that there would be no edible oil shortage during Ramadan, and that newly imported oil would arrive in the market within seven to ten days. However, more than 12 days have passed since their statement, and supply issues persist.
This shortage of soybean oil has driven up demand for palm oil, with two types currently available. The lower-quality palm oil, which solidifies quickly after cooking, is selling at Tk 150 per litre, while the superior-quality super palm oil is priced at Tk 320 for two litres, or Tk 850 for a five-litre bottle.
A trader explained: “We don’t receive as much bottled oil as we need. How can we sell it? People are opting for palm oil instead.”
A shortage of high-quality loose soybean oil has also been reported, with traders stating that the supply is unable to meet growing demand.
“If we order four cartons, we only get two. Dealers deliver only once a day”, a trader told this correspondent.
Meanwhile, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin has assured that supply of all commodities in the market ahead of holy Ramadan would be ensured within a week.
“Supply of edible oil, dates and chickpeas would be normal in the market within the next seven days”, he told the journalists following a meeting with tannery owners at Hemayetpur Friday afternoon.
"There is no possibility of shortage of food items in the market during Ramadan", the adviser said, adding that the price of all the commodities, including dates, would come down.
The adviser said there are enough stocks of all commodities to meet the demands in Ramadan. So, no problem would be created related to supply of the commodities in the market, he added.
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As Ramadan draws near, the market reveals a mix of trends—while some essentials see price hikes, others remain relatively stable.
Data from Bangladesh Bank reveals a 20-64 percent surge in the import of key Ramadan commodities this year, a move that has helped cushion the impact of rising demand. Between October and January, sugar imports reached 454,034 tonnes, up 20 percent from a year earlier.
Shoppers and traders report that key Ramadan staples, including dates, chickpeas, various lentils, gram flour, and sugar, continue to maintain stable prices and consistent availability.
However, the situation differs for fresh produce, with prices for items like lemons, cucumbers, and eggplants rising, as well as for fish and meat.
A key concern remains soybean oil, particularly the bottled variety, which has been in short supply for over a month—an issue yet to be resolved even as Ramadan nears.
Despite assurances from the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association to improve availability by Wednesday, the market remains largely unchanged.
Traders credit the relative price stability of many other essentials to increased imports.
Central bank data shows that Soybean oil imports saw a significant rise of 34 percent, reaching 598,252 tonnes during the same period.
Lentil imports surged by 44 percent, totaling 157,837 tonnes, while chickpea imports climbed by 64 percent to 97,555 tonnes. Onions saw a 2 percent increase in imports, garlic rose by 20 percent, ginger by 56 percent, and dates by 23 percent.
Chickpeas are currently priced between Tk 110-120 per kg, which remains unchanged from last Ramadan.
In Dhaka's markets, eggplants are priced at Tk 40-50 per kg, while gram flour is being sold for Tk 120-140 per kg.
A market survey conducted across Malibagh, Jatrabari, Kaptan Bazar, Shantinagar, Karwan Bazar, and Mohakhali kitchen markets revealed that imported white sugar is priced at Tk 120 per kg, while brown sugar costs between Tk 140-145 per kg.
At Karwan Bazar, most wholesale traders are selling puffed rice at Tk 80 per kg.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), chickpeas were priced between Tk 110-120 per kg on Thursday, compared to Tk 95-110 a year ago.
Anchor lentils were priced between Tk 60-80 per kg, depending on quality, while last year, they ranged from Tk 75-80 per kg.
Shahin Sarker of AR Raihan Enterprise in Karwan Bazar confirmed these prices for lentils and chickpeas.
Last year, importers faced a 100 percent margin requirement due to the foreign currency crisis. Frequent fluctuations in the exchange rate also contributed to the rise in costs.
To address Ramadan supply concerns, the central bank relaxed the margin requirement on imports of eight key items—chickpeas, lentils, peas, onions, edible oil, spices, sugar, and dates.
This year, importers were allowed to open letters of credit (LCs) based on bank-client relationships, without any mandatory margin, as stated by Governor Ahsan H Mansur on February 16.
MEAT AND FISH PRICES SOAR AHEAD OF RAMADAN
Meat prices, which had surged by Tk 20 to Tk 30 per kg during Shab-e-Barat before dropping a couple of days later, have risen again ahead of Ramadan.
Broiler chicken is now selling at Tk 210-230 per kg, with Sonali variety priced at Tk 330-350. Just two days ago, broiler chicken was priced between Tk 190-200 per kg, and Sonali was still within Tk 330.
Red layer chicken is being sold at Tk 300 per kg, white layer at Tk 290, and local chicken at Tk 560.
Beef has increased by Tk 40-50 per kg compared to last week, now standing at Tk 780-800 per kg.
Mutton has risen by Tk 50 per kg, now costing Tk 1,200.
Fish prices have also surged by Tk 20-30 per kg.
At the Niketan kitchen market, 500g hilsa is priced at Tk 1,000, while 700-800g costs Tk 1,500, and 1kg hilsa is being sold for Tk 2,000.
Rui fish prices have increased by Tk 20-30, now ranging from Tk 380 to Tk 450 per kg, while prawns are priced between Tk 780 and Tk 1,200.
Large katla fish is priced at Tk 350-420 per kg.
SOYA BEAN OIL CRISIS PERSISTS AHEAD OF RAMADAN
The ongoing soybean oil supply crisis, which began over a month ago, has yet to ease, even with the arrival of Ramadan.
Most of the available oil in the market is packaged in two- and five-litre bottles, leading to a surge in demand for loose soyabean oil, which is now priced between Tk 165-170 per litre.
The government-set price for bottled soyabean oil is Tk 175 per litre, with a five-litre bottle priced at Tk 850.
On February 16, the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association reassured the public that there would be no edible oil shortage during Ramadan, and that newly imported oil would arrive in the market within seven to ten days. However, more than 12 days have passed since their statement, and supply issues persist.
This shortage of soybean oil has driven up demand for palm oil, with two types currently available. The lower-quality palm oil, which solidifies quickly after cooking, is selling at Tk 150 per litre, while the superior-quality super palm oil is priced at Tk 320 for two litres, or Tk 850 for a five-litre bottle.
A trader explained: “We don’t receive as much bottled oil as we need. How can we sell it? People are opting for palm oil instead.”
A shortage of high-quality loose soybean oil has also been reported, with traders stating that the supply is unable to meet growing demand.
“If we order four cartons, we only get two. Dealers deliver only once a day”, a trader told this correspondent.
Meanwhile, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin has assured that supply of all commodities in the market ahead of holy Ramadan would be ensured within a week.
“Supply of edible oil, dates and chickpeas would be normal in the market within the next seven days”, he told the journalists following a meeting with tannery owners at Hemayetpur Friday afternoon.
"There is no possibility of shortage of food items in the market during Ramadan", the adviser said, adding that the price of all the commodities, including dates, would come down.
The adviser said there are enough stocks of all commodities to meet the demands in Ramadan. So, no problem would be created related to supply of the commodities in the market, he added.
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