Prices of salt and sugar went up in the week that ended on Thursday. 

Prices of eggs and fish went up through the week, while loose soybean oil, seasonal vegetables and potato prices dipped. 

Salt prices recorded a four-year high according the department of agricultural marketing (DAM) data. Packet salt of different brands increased to Tk 28-30 per kg from Tk 24-25 per kg and loose salt increased to Tk 18-20 per kg from Tk 14-15 per kg. 

Farmers, aided by import restrictions, hiked prices, traders said. 

Md Sarwarul Islam, a grocer at Barabagh Bazar in Mirpur, told the FE that prices of loose salt have surged to Tk 640-650 per maund (37.32 kg) at the wholesale from Tk 560-570 per maund earlier.  

Companies of different brands tagged their new packs at Tk 28 to Tk 30 per kg.

Some refiners and importers told the FE recently that salt prices from farmers surged to Tk 390-410 per maund this year from Tk 180-200 per maund a year ago.

The government imposed a restriction on salt import recently that has contributed to the price surge, they added.

Sugar prices increased by Tk 1-2 per kg, selling at Tk 50-54 per kg at different areas of the city. Traders attributed the increase to higher import costs.

According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), following a recommendation from the BSFIC to salvage the state-run sugar mills, tariff value of raw sugar was hiked to US$ 350 per tonne from $320. Refined sugar tariff was increased $30 to $430 per tonne. 15 per cent VAT was also imposed over tariff value. 

Refiners said the hike in import costs pushed up sugar prices by Tk 7-8 per kg at mill gates, causing the surge in retail price.  

Prices of winter vegetables including cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, ‘khirois’ – a variety of cucumber, tomato, eggplant and local bean declined over the past week by Tk 2-4 per kg.

Potatoes of granola and diamond varieties were sold at Tk 16-20 per kg, while the desi (red) varieity traded at Tk 22-24 per kg — declining by Tk 2.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com 

cleared by nilufer

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Source: The Financial Express