Prices drop in kitchen markets amid low demand

The price of broiler chicken, beef, imported onions, ginger, garlic and other spices have dropped due to a reduced demand after the Eid-ul-Fitr.

However, the prices of eggs and potatoes have increased to some extent. In contrast, vegetable prices were found to be stable during a visit to different kitchen markets of the capital, including those in Karwan Bazar, Rampura, and Hatirpul areas.

Because of the Covid-19 outbreak, the number of consumers was lower in the kitchen markets. As many people have left the capital to celebrate Eid, the flow of buyers was also down. 

Most shops were closed in the markets as there were no shoppers, and some of the sellers were selling at a lower price fearing that their products would go bad.

"If we open the shop, we have to pay employees' salaries, electricity bills and bear other expenses. We cannot make profits as there are no sales," said Saiful Malek, a vegetable seller at the Kathalbagan kitchen market.

On Wednesday, locally produced onion sold for Tk45 per kilogram and imported onions sold for Tk35-Tk45 per kilogram. But before Eid, the same onions had sold for a much higher price.

On Thursday, broiler chicken cost Tk150-Tk160 a kilogram. Before Eid, it sold for Tk170. Price of local chickens have also reduced to some extent.

Though the price of chicken fell, eggs have become more expensive. Four eggs sold for Tk32-Tk34, up from Tk26-Tk28 last week. 

Garlic sold for Tk80-Tk100 per kg last week. But now, the price is up to Tk120 per kg this week, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

TCB sources also said that locally produced garlic is now Tk20 more expensive. But the price of imported garlic is stable at Tk150.

Ginger prices have also experienced a mixed trend. Yesterday, the cost of locally produced ginger was Tk180. But the imported variety was sold at Tk160 – a Tk10 increase per kilogram from last week.

Beef was available for Tk580-Tk600 per kg, down from Tk650 last week. However, most butcher shops have remained closed as there are no customers.

Meanwhile, most of the vegetables cost between Tk30 and Tk40. Tomatoes and carrots were available at Tk40 per kg, and papaya at Tk35.

Eggplants sold for Tk70 before Eid but have now reduced to Tk40 per kg.