Dhaka food markets see vegetable and fish prices ease as chicken, eggs stay high

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Dhaka food prices ease

Highlights

Vegetable prices in Dhaka dropped as winter supplies increased and holiday demand declined, with beans down to Tk140–Tk150 per kg and long eggplants falling by Tk40.
Fish prices eased across Dhaka markets, with large rohu at Tk350–Tk360 per kg and pangas at Tk200 per kg due to decreased festival period demand.
Broiler chicken remains at Tk180 per kg and eggs at Tk150 per dozen, as high wholesale rates inhibit retail price cuts despite declines in other food categories.

Holiday demand and fresh supplies reshape prices

As reported by The Business Standard, visits to New Market, Lalbagh, Karwan Bazar and other kitchen markets in Dhaka on 22 October show vegetable and fish prices declining as early winter supplies increase and shoppers leave the capital during the Durga Puja holidays.

Early-season beans are selling at Tk140 to Tk150 per kg, down from Tk180 last week. Long eggplants have dropped by as much as Tk40 to Tk80 per kg, green chillies are at Tk130 per kg after a Tk20 fall, and white round eggplants cost Tk100 per kg. Cauliflower is selling at Tk60 per piece, pointed gourds and okra at Tk60 per kg, ridge gourds, teasel gourds and bitter gourds at Tk80, carrots at Tk100 and cucumbers at Tk70 to Tk80. Papaya remains the cheapest vegetable at Tk30 per kg, while bottle gourds cost Tk50 to Tk60 each and four lemons sell for Tk60.

Tomatoes are an exception to the broader easing trend, rising by Tk20 to Tk150 to Tk160 per kg. Vegetable seller Tarek Hossain in Lalbagh says wholesale supplies of early winter vegetables have started increasing and prices are likely to become more affordable if arrivals rise further.

Fish prices are also easing as fewer consumers shop in Dhaka during the festival break. Large rohu is selling at Tk350 to Tk360 per kg, katla at Tk400 to Tk420, pangas at Tk200 and pabda at Tk360, while prices of other small indigenous fish have also softened.

Chicken and eggs remain a pressure point

Despite lower prices for vegetables and fish, poultry and eggs continue to strain household food budgets in the capital. Broiler chicken is selling at Tk180 per kg, Sonali chicken at Tk310 to Tk320 and layer chicken at Tk350 to Tk360, while eggs remain at Tk150 per dozen.

Chicken sellers say elevated wholesale rates and supply costs are preventing a retail price cut. Egg traders say prices are fluctuating daily, with no immediate sign of relief.

Most grocery items are broadly stable compared with last week. Packaged polao rice is selling at Tk230 per kg, loose polao rice at Tk160 to Tk200 depending on quality, small lentils at Tk140 to Tk150, coarse lentils at Tk90, large mung beans at Tk140, small mung beans at Tk170, khesari dal at Tk85, chickpeas at Tk120, gram at Tk105 and black gram at Tk180. Bottled soybean oil is selling at Tk205 per litre, loose soybean oil at Tk200 per kg, loose mustard oil at Tk220 per litre, both packaged and loose ghee at Tk1,400 per kg, sugar at Tk110 per kg, a two-kg packet of flour at Tk170 and a two-kg packet of atta at Tk140.

Our earlier article on Strait of Hormuz shipping disruption explained how extended transport and fertilizer delays were starting to hit harvests through lower fertilizer use, more cautious planting, and higher operating costs. We noted that agricultural commodity prices had already risen and that further increases could follow, with Asia and Africa facing elevated food security risks if disruption persisted.

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