Egg, chicken prices drop as milk becomes costlier

The prices of eggs and chickens that suddenly increased two weeks ago have returned to somewhat normal but the milk market has become unstable.

Over the past week, prices of many commodities including sugar, flour, edible oil, fish and some vegetables have also gone up while prices of some products including onion have decreased.

Eggs were sold at Tk 150-160 per dozen in the kitchen markets around Dhaka city over the past two weeks. On Friday, consumers were able to buy eggs at Tk 110-120.

At the same time, broiler chicken price has come down to Tk 150-160 per kg from last week’s Tk 180.

Meanwhile, the prices of liquid and powdered milk have suddenly increased by at least Tk 10 per litre and Tk 20-30 per kg, respectively.

One litre packet of various brands of liquid milk was sold at Tk 90 on Friday, up from last week’s Tk 80. With this, liquid milk price has gone up by Tk 20 per litre or 28 per cent in two phases over the past eight months.

According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, powdered milk of various brands was sold at Tk 690-780 per kg on Friday, which was Tk 570-650 in January. With this, its price has risen by Tk 120-130 per kg or 20 per cent in eight months.

Consumers have expressed deep frustration over the increasing prices of these protein sources as they are pushing up the living costs of lower and middle-income families.

On Thursday, loose flour was sold at Tk 54-55 per kg in the kitchen markets, down from last week’s Tk 50-52. The price of sugar went up to Tk 90 per kg.

Loose soybean oil was sold at Tk 175 per litre, which was Tk 166 last week.

Meanwhile, the prices of farmed fish in the market are also increasing as the prices of fish feed have gone up in recent times.

According to the traders, the rui was sold at Tk 320-340 per kg in retail on Thursday, down from last week’s Tk 280-300. Also, the price of medium-size (1.5-2.5 kg) pangas has increased by Tk 20 per kg to Tk 180-200. Tilapia was sold at Tk 220 per kg.