Edible Oil Shortage Persists as Eggs, Veggies Stay Costly

Consumers continue to face high food prices as edible oil supplies remain tight and the prices of eggs, vegetables, sugar and fish stay elevated in Dhaka’s kitchen markets.

Visits to several kitchen markets on Friday found that edible oil marketing companies have kept soybean oil supplies limited for weeks, citing rising global prices, even after regulators approved a Tk5-per-litre increase in bottled soybean oil.

Bottled soybean oil is now selling at Tk204 per litre, up from Tk199, but the price increase has not eased the supply shortage. Retailers in the capital said they are still struggling to meet demand.

Rahat, a retailer at Lalbagh Bazar, said supplies had not improved since the new price was announced on Wednesday.

He said companies were holding back regular orders until stocks at the new price reached the market. Shopkeepers said suppliers had not been delivering oil regularly for nearly two weeks and that their commissions had also been reduced when small quantities arrived after repeated orders.

In some areas, the shortage has led traders to sell old-stock oil above the fixed price.

Sugar prices climb

Sugar has also become scarce in some retail shops, with prices rising by around Tk10 to Tk15 per kg over the past two weeks.

Sellers attributed the increase to reduced supplies and higher wholesale prices, which have pushed up retail rates.

Vegetable prices soar

Vegetable prices have increased by Tk10 to Tk20 per kg compared with last week. Brinjal, bitter gourd, yardlong beans, okra, pointed gourd, kakrol and most other common vegetables are selling at Tk80 to Tk120 per kg.

Cucumber remains relatively affordable at Tk50 to Tk60 per kg, while the local variety costs Tk80 to Tk100.

Early winter beans are selling at Tk180 to Tk200 per kg, while papaya is comparatively cheaper at Tk40 per kg. Long brinjal costs Tk100 per kg, round brinjal Tk120 and tomatoes Tk120 to Tk140.

Yardlong beans, ridge gourd and bitter gourd are selling at Tk80 per kg, bottle gourd at Tk50 to Tk70 per piece and taro at Tk80 per kg.

Green chilli has also become more expensive, rising to Tk160 per kg from Tk120 last week.

Leafy greens have remained comparatively stable, with red amaranth and kalmi shak selling at Tk10 a bunch, data shak at Tk30 to Tk40, pui shak at Tk30 to Tk50, lau shak at Tk40 to Tk60 and kachu shak at Tk25 to Tk30.

Vegetable buyer Abu Daud said prices of virtually all vegetables had increased, with most selling for at least Tk80 per kg.

“People earning Tk500 to Tk600 a day now have to choose between fish, vegetables and rice,” he said, urging the government to take steps to ease the pressure on consumers.

Egg prices remain high

Eggs, traditionally considered an affordable source of protein for low- and middle-income households, are also selling at high prices.

A dozen eggs cost Tk165, while four eggs are selling for Tk55. Buyers said sellers previously offered discounts of up to Tk2 on a dozen but no longer do so.

Egg seller Masum said farm eggs were selling at Tk55 for four and that prices continued to rise without any sign of falling.

Chicken steady, fish remains expensive

Chicken prices have remained largely unchanged, with broiler selling at Tk190 per kg and Sonali chicken at Tk320. Beef is also steady at Tk800 per kg.

Fish prices remain high across the market. Tilapia is selling at Tk250 to Tk260 per kg, pangas at Tk230 to Tk250, and rui-katla at Tk380 to Tk420.

Shrimp costs Tk1,000 to Tk1,300 per kg, while pabda sells for Tk350 to Tk400, mrigel Tk250 to Tk300, local koi Tk700 to Tk800, farmed koi Tk300 and poa Tk260.

Farmed shing is selling at Tk300 to Tk450 depending on size, while medium-sized rui costs Tk300 to Tk350 per kg.

Mafizul Islam, a fish seller at New Market, said medium-sized rui was selling at Tk300 to Tk350 per kg, while local river fish such as bele, which is currently in high demand, costs more than Tk1,000 per kg.