After a brief respite for a couple of weeks, prices of onions and eggs have once again risen in the recent week, triggering worries among consumers.
The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) and Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) reported a 10 per cent increase in egg prices and a more substantial 23-25 per cent rise in onion prices this week.
Local onions on Thursday reached Tk 80-90 per kg, while imported Indian onions to Tk 55-60 per kg, marking a surge of Tk 10-15 per kg in just a week. Prices of farmed eggs (brown) also shot up to Tk 165-180 per dozen, experiencing a hike of Tk 15 per dozen during the same period.
The traders blamed a shortage of supply due to rough weather and increased demand for the recent price hike of eggs while the onion supply also declined due to prices rising from the import sources.
Munzur Hossain, a local trader of Tajgaon wholesale egg market and owner of Munshijong Traders, said the consumers have increased dependency on eggs as fish prices have raised significantly due to rough weather over the last two weeks.
As a result, the demand for eggs has increased by more than 50 per cent in the last two weeks, he said, adding that “My regular customers who used to buy around 3000 eggs daily now are seeking 5,000 eggs daily. But we cannot supply that amount of eggs, because the production in the farms has not increased according to the demand, on the contrary, the production has decreased.”
Egg prices at the farm level surged notably in areas like Savar, Dhamrai, Keraniganj, Dohar, Nowabganj, Cumilla, Pabna, Sirajganj and Tangail over the last two weeks, he added.
According to data from different wholesale markets, egg is being sold at Tk 12.40-12.50 per piece on Thursday, it was available at Tk 11.20-11.30 per piece one week ago.
As per the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association (BPIA), egg was being sold at Tk 11.30-11.90 per piece at farm level on Wednesday which was Tk 10.80-11.10 per piece, a week ago.
Amid such a condition, SM Nazer Hossain, vice president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), also expressed concern over the spiralling prices of essential commodities. The surging prices of eggs, chicken and cultured fish are affecting the protein intake of millions of people in the country, he said.
Despite having a flawless local supply and low import costs, onion prices continue to rise in the country, primarily benefiting traders, he stated, adding, “A lack of visible and effective monitoring in the kitchen markets is allowing traders to fix the high prices of commodities like onions and eggs.”
Hossain called for strict monitoring of the egg wholesalers in the Tejgaon area of Karwan Bazar and other markets in the capital.
Easin Rahman, a retailer of Maniknagar kitchen market said, “Today (Thursday) I bought imported onion from Shyambazar in capital at wholesale price of Tk 48 per kg, which was Tk 44 per kg two days ago. A week ago, I could buy this onion at Tk 38-40 per kg.”
Big traders are also suffering as the import price of onion has increased significantly imposing an adverse impact on the wholesale market, Rahman said. Besides, onion imports were also disrupted due to rain which is fuelling the price further, he added.
