Fish, chicken prices fall as supply grows

Chicken and some popular fish prices went down in the last couple of days due to increased supply, with sales rising in the capital’s kitchen markets.

Rohu, Catla, Tilapia, Snakehead Murrel, Shrimp, Mrigal Carp, Silver Carp, Stinging Catfish, Climbing Perch, and Hilsa prices were comparatively low on Wednesday.

Hilsa was sold at Tk 1,000-1,300 per kg depending on size and quality.

Big shrimp was sold at Tk 650 per kg, down from Tk 700 a few days ago, while the small variety was sold at Tk 500 per kg, which was Tk 550 earlier.

Traders said shrimp was mostly coming from Bhairab and other areas of the country to the capital.

Talking to The Business Post, Md Mamun, a fish trader in Mirpur-1, said this is the fish season, and the supply is enough to meet the demand. “That is why fish prices keep declining in the market.”

A few other fish traders said their sales had increased in the last couple of days.

Mid-sized Rohu was sold at Tk 260 per kg, down from Tk 320, while the small one was sold at Tk 160-170 per kg.

Stinging Catfish was sold at 500, Tk 600, and Tk 750 per kg depending on size and quality.

Climbing Perch was sold at Tk 800 per kg while large Pangas was sold at Tk 800-900 per kg.

Pomfret prices remained stable at Tk 1,000 per kg.

On Wednesday, broiler chicken was sold at Tk 140-142 per kg, down from Tk 143-145 last week.

Sonali chicken was sold at Tk 260 per kg, which was Tk 265-270 on November 26 in various kitchen markets in the capital.

However, the price was Tk 290-295 per kg in mid-September and later climbed up to Tk 310-320 in mid-October.

Onion prices remained stable in the last couple of weeks. A kilogramme of the essential kitchen item’s local variety was sold at Tk 60-65 per kg while the Indian one cost Tk 45 per kg, which was Tk 48-50 last week.

Rice prices rose by Tk 1-2 per kg recently despite adequate supply while vegetable prices were still high, which is hitting low- and middle-income consumers hard.

A number of consumers expressed disappointment over the price hike of all essential commodities.