Home ›› 24 Feb 2023 ›› Front
After causing suffering among consumers for three weeks, the prices of eggs and chicken have started to decrease in the wholesale market.
The price of broiler chicken has dropped by Tk 15-20 per kg over the past week while the price of eggs went down by Tk 0.70-1 each.
However, this has not made any impact on the retail market yet, as retailers are still selling these two major sources of protein at previously
hiked prices.
Retailers said, after the sudden increase in prices, the profit margin went down and now they are adjusting for the previously lost profit.
Wholesale traders said increased demand for eggs and chickens pushes up the prices in February every year as more than usual social events take place during this month and that is what happened this year as well.
Since the month is nearing its end, demand has decreased and the prices have started going down. Prices and demands both will decrease further before and during Ramadan, they said.
The demand for eggs and chickens is most likely to drop soon as most eateries and restaurants will remain closed throughout the day during the holy month, they added.
Profit issue
According to Bangladesh Poultry Farm Protection National Council, farm eggs were sold at Tk 9.55-9.85 each on Thursday in Dhaka and surrounding farms. The price was Tk 10.25-10.55 a week ago.
On Thursday, at the capital’s wholesale market Kaptan Bazar, eggs were sold at Tk 10.40-10.40 each. It was Tk 11.30-11.40 a week ago.
Broiler chickens were sold at Tk 175 per kg at the farm level around Dhaka, including Gazipur, on Thursday. It was Tk 190-195 a week ago. But the price of Sonali breed chicken remained unchanged at Tk 260 per kg in the wholesale market.
However, farm chicken eggs were still being sold at the Tk 140-per-dozen rate from the past three weeks at various retail markets, including Fakirapool and Segunbagicha, in the capital on Thursday.
At the same markets, broiler chickens were still being sold at Tk 220-230 per kg and Sonali breed chickens at Tk 310-320 per kg on Thursday. These prices have been in effect at the retail level for the past two weeks.
Noor-e-Alam, an egg seller at Fakirapool kitchen market, said, “We are still selling at the previous price because our profit margin dropped by a large percentage after the sudden wholesale price hike.
“Now, we are just adjusting our profit. The opportunity to make a good profit does not come all the time.”
Chicken sellers echoed his remarks.
Daily commodities
Meanwhile, there is no good news in the beef market for consumers, with its price going up to Tk 750 per kg at the capital’s kitchen markets ahead of Ramadan. It was Tk 700-720 per kg a month ago.
The prices of all other essentials, including rice, lentil, edible oil, sugar and flour, either remained unchanged or went up. On Thursday, Zirashail/Miniket and Nazirshail variety rice were sold at Tk 72-85 per kg at the retail kitchen markets of Dhaka city. Paijam, BR28 and BR29 were sold at Tk 58-68 per kg and the Swarna at Tk 53-56.
Loose white sugar was sold at Tk 115-120 per kg; lentils at Tk 95-130 per kg; chickpeas at Tk 90-95 per kg; soybean oil at Tk 180-190 per litre; and one kg packet of flour was sold at Tk 65-78.
The price of onion remained unchanged but the price of garlic and ginger went up by Tk 10-20 per kg this week.
On Thursday, local onion was sold at Tk 30-45 per kg. Garlic was sold at Tk 120-160 per kg, up from last week’s Tk 140-150.
Both local and imported ginger was sold at Tk 150-200 per kg, up from last week’s Tk 140-180.
Moreover, somewhat increased demand ahead of Ramadan has pushed up the prices of some vegetables, including eggplant, bitter gourd and tomato, by Tk 10 per kg over the past week.
