Dhaka:Imports of key Ramadan staples such as edible oil, sugar, chickpeas, lentils, and dates have seen a substantial increase this fiscal year, enhancing the prospects for a stable supply during the holy month, as reported by the Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the prices of eggs, broiler chicken, and lentils have decreased in local markets over the past month, while edible oil and sugar prices have remained stable. This data was presented by the commission during a meeting at the Commerce Ministry, which reviewed the market situation for essentials including edible oil, eggs, pulses, chickpeas, dates, and sugar.
From July 1 to October 25 of the current fiscal year, imports of all five staple items have surpassed those of the same period last year. Edible oil imports reached 8.23 lakh tonnes, an increase of 1.18 lakh tonnes from the previous year. Soybean seed imports increased by 1.13 lakh tonnes to 5.01 lakh tonnes, and sugar imports totaled 6.87 lakh tonnes, up by 1.53 lakh tonnes. Chickpea imports, an iftar staple, rose significantly to about 82,000 tonnes, an increase of 70,000 tonnes. Lentil imports were up by 64,000 tonnes to 1.22 lakh tonnes, while date imports increased to around 11,000 tonnes from 4,000 tonnes.
Retail egg prices have dropped 7.62 percent in the past month, with eggs now selling at Tk 47-50 per four, and broiler chicken prices have decreased by 2.63 percent to Tk 180-190 per kg. Large-grain lentils are down 2.56 percent in a month and 7.32 percent year-on-year, now selling at Tk 90-100 per kg. Bottled soybean oil remains stable at Tk 204 per litre, and sugar prices are unchanged at Tk 110-115 per kg. Ordinary-quality dates continue to sell at Tk 350-550 per kg depending on quality.
The poultry sector reports normal production levels for eggs and chicken, with no significant disease outbreaks or risk of major shortages. Farm-gate egg prices have fallen from Tk 11.5 per piece to below Tk 10, and while egg demand may dip slightly during Ramadan, chicken demand could rise after Eid.
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir emphasized the need for a simple, transparent, and rational tariff structure for dates, given the variety in quality and price across different source countries. He also called for coordination among relevant agencies to effectively implement a practical tariff system. The commission noted that international prices for edible oil and chickpeas have increased, whereas lentil prices have decreased, highlighting the importance of monitoring global trends, import costs, and local supply.
Overall, the increased imports and price reductions for several key items point to a stable market environment in the lead-up to Ramadan.