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The supply of soybean oil has yet to return to normal in the retail market despite a recent price hike, while egg and chicken prices remain high in Dhaka.
Edible oil companies have been reducing supplies to the retail market for several weeks amid rising prices in the global market. Even after the Commerce Ministry approved a Tk 5 increase in the price of bottled soybean oil per litre this week, the supply shortage has persisted.
A visit to several retail markets in the capital on Friday morning (September 4) found shortages of bottled soybean oil in several areas.
The retail price of bottled soybean oil has been raised from Tk 199 to Tk 204 per litre. However, the prices of loose soybean and palm oil have remained unchanged.
Retailers in Rampura, Badda, Segunbagicha and Shantinagar said one-litre bottles of soybean oil were unavailable at most shops, although two- and five-litre bottles were available at many outlets.
Enamul Haque, a retailer at Shantinagar Market, said the supply had not increased despite the announcement of the new price on Wednesday.
“Companies are not taking regular orders until products at the new price arrive,” he said.
Shopkeepers said suppliers had been withholding oil for nearly two weeks. Even when small quantities were supplied after several orders, retailers’ commissions had been significantly reduced.
A similar situation was found at grocery shops in Segunbagicha Kacha Bazar. Only two of the five leading shops had small quantities of one-litre bottles.
Retailer Md Taher said, “We are not getting oil even after placing orders. At the same time, the retailer’s commission on a Tk 200 bottle has been reduced to just Tk 1.50.”
Meanwhile, egg and chicken prices remained high despite continued volatility in the edible oil market.
A dozen broiler chicken eggs were selling at Tk 150, the same as last week. Broiler chickens were priced at Tk 185-195 per kg depending on the area, while Sonali chicken was selling for Tk 320-340 per kg, unchanged from the previous week.
Some vegetable prices, however, declined. Long eggplants were still selling for more than Tk 100 per kg, while ridge gourd was priced at Tk 70-80, snake gourd at Tk 50-60, papaya at Tk 30, and local bottle gourd at Tk 50-70 per piece, down from Tk 80-90.
Taro stems were selling for Tk 60-70 per kg, bitter gourd at Tk 60-80 depending on quality, and small pointed gourd and okra at Tk 40-50 per kg.
Green chilli prices dropped significantly to Tk 80-120 per kg, while cucumber prices fell to Tk 40-50.
However, yardlong beans, tomatoes, carrots and teasel gourd remained relatively expensive.
Onions also became slightly cheaper, with the price falling from Tk 60-65 to Tk 55-60 per kg.