Spices get costlier in capital

Spices and other cooking ingredients became dearer in the kitchen markets of the capital last week, increasing the financial burden on consumers.

Traders attributed the hikes in the prices of spices like garlic, ginger, cardamom, turmeric, red chilli powder, and coriander seed to the coronavirus outbreak in eastern Asia, which has affected timely supply of the items.

Visits to different kitchen markets, including Karwan Bazar, yesterday revealed that the prices of garlic and ginger had gone up by Tk 20–40 over the past week. Local and imported varieties of garlic were selling at Tk 170–220 per kg, depending on the quality, while ginger was going for Tk 150–180.

Traders said that rising import costs and the decline in imports from China were responsible for the increase in the prices of ginger

and garlic.

The prices of loose turmeric powder surged by Tk 30–40, selling at Tk 240–270 yesterday, with the actual price depending on the quality and the location of the market. Red chilli powder, which had already become much costlier, saw a further price increase of Tk 20–30 per kg.

The essential spice was selling for Tk 380–420 per kg yesterday.

The price of coriander seeds increased to Tk 140–165 per kg, up from

the earlier rate of Tk 125–150 per kg.

The state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) recorded surges of 4–30 per cent in the prices of different spices over the last seven days.

Although onion prices witnessed a slight decline, local varieties of the bulb were selling at nearly their previous high of Tk 120–140 per kg.

Locally stocked onions were retailing at Tk 130–140 per kg and newly harvested seed onions—the murikata variety—were going for Tk 130–150 per kg.

The prices of imported onions remained more or less static at Tk 70–130, with the rates varying based on the quality.

TCB had recorded a 13 per cent decrease in overall onion prices, on average, in the first week of February.

Winter vegetables also witnessed price hikes at retail outlets last week.

Seasonal cauliflowers and cabbages sold at Tk 35–40 apiece, cucumbers at Tk 40–60 per kg, tomatoes at Tk 50–80 per kg, country beans at Tk 60–80 per kg, long beans at Tk 70–80 per kg, bitter gourds at Tk 80–100 per kg, pointed gourds at Tk 60–70 per kg, brinjals at Tk 50–60 per kg, and carrots at Tk 60–70 per kg.

Radishes and papayas were relatively cheap at Tk 30–40 per kg. Newly harvested potatoes were selling at Tk 40 per kg and stored potatoes at Tk 30–42 per kg depending on the variety.

There was also a hike in the prices of river fish over the last week, with the prices rising by Tk 50–150 per kg.

Local hilsa was sold at Tk 750–1,450 per kg yesterday, based on size and quality. Indigenous rohu and katla were selling for Tk 480–650 per kg based on size, while shrimp and pabda went for Tk 550–950 per kg and Tk 500–650 per kg respectively.

The retail prices of broiler chicken declined slightly. Broiler chicken was being sold for Tk 110–120 per kg, while the price of red roosters stood at Tk 220–230 per kg. However, the price of farm eggs witnessed an increase. The going rate was Tk 100–108 per dozen, up from Tk 90–100 a month back.

Spices get costlier in capital

Spices and other cooking ingredients became dearer in the kitchen markets of the capital last week, increasing the financial burden on consumers. Traders attributed the hikes in the prices of spices like garlic, ginger, cardamom, turmeric, red chilli powder, and coriander seed to the coronavirus outbreak in eastern Asia, which has affected timely supply of the items. Visits to different kitchen markets, including Karwan Bazar, yesterday revealed that the prices of garlic and ginger had gone up by Tk 2040 over the past week. Local and imported varieties of garlic were selling at Tk 170220 per kg, depending on the quality, while ginger was going for Tk 150180. Traders said that rising import costs and the decline in imports from China were responsible for the increase in the prices of ginger and garlic. The prices of loose turmeric powder surged by Tk 3040, selling at Tk 240270 yesterday, with the actual price depending on the quality and the location of the market. Red chilli powder, which had already become much costlier, saw a further price increase of Tk 2030 per kg. The essential spice was selling for Tk 380420 per kg yesterday. The price of coriander seeds increased to Tk 140165 per kg, up from the earlier rate of Tk 125150 per kg. The state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) recorded surges of 430 per cent in the prices of different spices over the last seven days. Although onion prices witnessed a slight decline, local varieties of the bulb were selling at nearly their previous high of Tk 120140 per kg. Locally stocked onions were retailing at Tk 130140 per kg and newly harvested seed onionsthe murikata varietywere going for Tk 130150 per kg. The prices of imported onions remained more or less static at Tk 70130, with the rates varying based on the quality. TCB had recorded a 13 per cent decrease in overall onion prices, on average, in the first week of February. Winter vegetables also witnessed price hikes at retail outlets last week. Seasonal cauliflowers and cabbages sold at Tk 3540 apiece, cucumbers at Tk 4060 per kg, tomatoes at Tk 5080 per kg, country beans at Tk 6080 per kg, long beans at Tk 7080 per kg, bitter gourds at Tk 80100 per kg, pointed gourds at Tk 6070 per kg, brinjals at Tk 5060 per kg, and carrots at Tk 6070 per kg. Radishes and papayas were relatively cheap at Tk 3040 per kg. Newly harvested potatoes were selling at Tk 40 per kg and stored potatoes at Tk 3042 per kg depending on the variety. There was also a hike in the prices of river fish over the last week, with the prices rising by Tk 50150 per kg. Local hilsa was sold at Tk 7501,450 per kg yesterday, based on size and quality. Indigenous rohu and katla were selling for Tk 480650 per kg based on size, while shrimp and pabda went for Tk 550950 per kg and Tk 500650 per kg respectively. The retail prices of broiler chicken declined slightly. Broiler chicken was being sold for Tk 110120 per kg, while the price of red roosters stood at Tk 220230 per kg. However, the price of farm eggs witnessed an increase. The going rate was Tk 100108 per dozen, up from Tk 90100 a month back.