Meat prices come down as demand falls

The prices of beef and mutton, which shot up before Eid-ul-Fitr, have come down in the kitchen markets of the capital city as the demand for meat has dropped due to less number of customers.

Meat traders said the prices of beef and mutton went up in the retail market before Eid due to an increase in its prices in the wholesale market. But now the meat prices have dropped due to a fall in its demand, they added.

Apart from meat, the price of pulses has also declined slightly. But the prices of chicken, onion and sugar have increased. Besides, edible oil, flour, vegetables and other essential commodities were being sold at higher prices than before.

During visit to various kitchen markets, including Segunbagicha, Mugda and Maniknagar, it was seen that there were few buyers in the kitchen markets. Retail traders said sales dropped due to less number of buyers.

Many people have not yet returned from their village homes while many others were cooking meat, fish and vegetables bought by them earlier. As a result, the number of buyers in the market was less, they said.

The beef price dropped to Tk750 per kilogram on Thursday from Tk800 before Eid-ul-Fitr while the mutton price came down to Tk1,100 per kg on Thursday Tk1,300 last week.

Abdul Salam, meat trader at Mugda kitchen market, said beef was selling at Tk800 per kg in the kitchen market before Eid. But the number of customers has decreased after Eid. The meat price fell by Tk50 per kg as its demand has dropped, he added.

However, the price of chicken has increased by Tk10-20 per kg this week compared to last week. Broiler chicken sold at Tk230-250 per kg on Thursday while it was Tk220-230 per kg last week. Egg sold at Tk43-45 per four pieces, it was at Tk42-43 last week.

Traders said as hotels and restaurants remained closed during the month of Ramadan, the demand for chicken was slightly lower. Now hotels and restaurants opened again. As the demand has risen, the prices are also increasing, they said.

Besides chicken, the prices of sugar and onion increased by Tk5 per kg this week. Sugar sold at Tk120-125 per kg on Thurs-day while it was Tk115-120 per kg last week. Onion sold at Tk45-50 per kg while it was Tk40-45 per kg last week.

On the other hand, the prices of other commodities, including rice, edible oil, flour, fish and vegetables remained un-changed at previous high. Bottled soybean oil sold at Tk180-185 per litre, loose flour at Tk55-58 per kg while packed flour at Tk62-65 per kg.

Course lentils sold at Tk90-100 per kg while it was at Tk95-100 per kg. Fine lentils sold at Tk125-130 per kg while it was Tk130-135 per kg last week.

The prices of maximum vegetables have remained unchanged at previous high except some varieties. Potato sold at Tk32-35 per kg, tomato at Tk40-50 per kg, green chilli at 75-80 per kg and other vegetables sold at Tk60-70 per kg on an average.

Small-sized ruhit and katla sold at Tk300-350 per kg while big ones at Tk400-450 per kg. Shrimp sold at Tk600-800 per kg while hilsa at Tk900-1,300 per kg.

Fish traders said the ban on hilsa fishing is being lifted in various areas, including Bhola from Friday. This may help increase the supply of fish from Saturday. They expect that the prices of fish will fall slightly.