Tea prices shoot up 108% in 12yrs

Despite not qualifying as an essential food item, the prices of tea, especially loose-leaf tea, have gone up as much as 108 per cent over the last 12 years.

Tea dealers and suppliers of various brands have hinted at another price hike soon.

According to a report by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), the average price of loose-leaf tea at the end of 2021 was Tk 463 per kg. The average price of the same quality loose-leaf tea was Tk 222 per kg back in 2010. Comparing the two prices shows that there was a 108 per cent hike over the last 12 years.

Meanwhile, the average price of packaged tea of various brands has increased by 100 per cent over the same period. At the end of 2021, the average price of packaged tea was Tk 535 per kg, which was Tk 268 per kg back in 2010. The greater part of this price hike happened over the last six years.

At present, various types of tea from brands such as Ispahani, Kazi & Kazi, Ceylon, Finlay, Bengal, Halda Vally, Taaza etc. are available in the country’s market.

After visiting the market and talking to a number of traders, it was found that suppliers of several tea brands have hinted at an impending price hike. The traders were told to anticipate up to a 5 per cent price hike soon.

“The supplier of a well-known brand company told me that the price may increase by Tk 10 per 100-gm tea packet and Tk 400 per 400-gm packet,” said Mostafizur Rahman Sifat, owner of a store in the Segunbagicha Bazaar of the capital.

The trader said that the supplier did not disclose the reason for the increase, but he speculated that it might be related to the ongoing movement by the tea garden workers for raising their wages to Tk 300 from Tk 120.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday fixed the daily wage of tea workers at Tk 170. This decision was taken in a scheduled meeting with tea garden owners at Ganabhaban. The premier called for the tea workers to put an end to their strike and return to work.

At present, average quality loose-leaf tea is being sold for Tk 350-450 per kg in shops across Dhaka. The price of better-quality loose-leaf tea is around Tk 500-1000 per kg. On the other hand, packaged black tea of various local brands is sold for around Tk 200-210 per 400 gm packet. When it comes to tea bags, each packet containing 50 pieces of black tea bags is sold for Tk 90-145.