Fuel price hike pushes up vegetable, chicken prices

Higher fuel prices are pushing up the cost of vegetables, chicken and other food items in Dhaka, with several vegetables rising by Tk10 to Tk20 per kilogramme (kg) over the past week despite adequate supplies, traders said.
A survey of several markets in Dhaka on Friday found prices rising across much of the produce and poultry markets. Traders attributed the increases partly to higher transportation costs following the fuel-price hike.
Hilsa prices were largely unchanged despite increased supplies. Smaller fish were selling for Tk900-Tk1,000, medium-sized fish for Tk1,400-Tk1,600 and fish weighing about 1 kilogram for Tk1,800-Tk2,000. Traders said transport costs were keeping overall fish prices elevated despite good supply.
The price of pointed gourd, okra and snake gourd each rose by about Tk20 per kg to Tk70-Tk80. Brinjal was selling for Tk80-Tk140 per kg, green chilies for Tk120-Tk140 per kg, and tomatoes and carrots for Tk100-Tk120 per kg.
Potatoes were priced at Tk30 per kg, onions at Tk50-Tk55 per kg and cucumbers at Tk70-Tk80 per kg. Yardlong beans were selling for Tk60-Tk80 per kg, while the price of papaya rose by about Tk20 to Tk50-Tk55 per kg.
Winter vegetables remained relatively expensive. Beans were selling for Tk200-Tk220 per kg, cauliflower at Tk60-Tk80 per kg and small cabbages at about Tk80 each. Radish was an exception, falling Tk10 to Tk50  per kg.
Chicken prices also increased. The price of Sonali chicken rose Tk20 to Tk320 per kg, while Sonali hybrid was selling for Tk290 per kg, red layer chicken at Tk360 per kg and broiler chicken at Tk180 per kg. Local chicken was priced at Tk670 per kg.
Beef was selling for Tk780-Tk800 per kg, while mutton was around Tk1,300 per kg.
Among farmed fish, shing was priced at Tk300-Tk600 per kg, rui at Tk400-Tk550 per kg, pangas at Tk180-Tk200 per kg, shrimp at Tk800-Tk1,400 per kg, large katla at Tk400-Tk550 per kg, pabda at Tk400-Tk450 per kg, tilapia at Tk240 per kg and koi at Tk220-Tk230 per kg. Red chicken eggs were selling for Tk150-Tk155 a dozen and duck eggs for Tk200 a dozen. Four local chicken eggs cost Tk100, while four Sonali chicken eggs were priced at Tk70.