Consumers in the capital are feeling the pinch of an edible oil shortage that has coincided with higher costs for eggs, sugar and fresh produce.
Soybean oil supply remains tight despite price hike
Marketing firms have kept soybean oil stocks limited for weeks, pointing to rising global rates as the reason for the restraint. Regulators approved a Tk5‑per‑litre increase for bottled oil on September 2, yet retailers report no improvement in availability.
Bottled oil now changes hands at Tk204 per litre, up from Tk199, while loose soybean oil and palm oil prices have held steady. In some outlets, traders are charging more than the official ceiling for older stock, a sign that demand outstrips supply.
Rahat, a seller at Lalbagh Bazar, said that companies have paused regular deliveries until the new‑price inventory arrives. He added that orders placed in the past two weeks have been sporadic, and when small consignments finally show up, commissions are being reduced.
Shop owners confirm that deliveries have been irregular for nearly a fortnight. The market seems to be stuck in a weird limbo where price adjustments do not automatically translate into steadier shelves.
Rising costs affect daily staples
Sugar has become scarcer alongside oil, with retail rates climbing Tk10‑15 per kilogram over the last two weeks. Sellers attribute the surge to tighter supply chains and higher wholesale costs, which ripple through to consumers.
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Vegetable prices have also moved upward, typically Tk10‑20 per kilogram higher than a week ago. Common items such as brinjal, bitter gourd, yardlong beans, okra and kakrol now fetch between Tk80 and Tk120 per kilogram. Cucumber stays relatively cheaper at Tk50‑60, though the local variety commands Tk80‑100.
Winter beans, arriving early this monsoon, are priced at Tk180‑200 per kilogram, while papaya remains the most affordable fruit at Tk40. Long‑shaped brinjal sells for Tk100, round brinjal for Tk120, and tomatoes range from Tk120 to Tk140.
Yardlong beans, ridge gourd and bitter gourd hover around Tk80 per kilogram. Bottle gourd is sold at Tk50‑70 each, and taro at Tk80 per kilogram. Green chilli has jumped from Tk120 to Tk160 per kilogram since last week.
Leafy greens have held comparatively steady. Red amaranth and kalmi spinach trade at Tk10 per bunch, while data spinach is Tk30‑40, pui spinach Tk30‑50, lau spinach Tk40‑60 and kachu spinach Tk25‑30.
Buyer Abu Daud notes that every vegetable in the market has become costlier, with prices up by at least Tk10 and nothing below Tk80 per kilogram. He points out that a daily wage earner making Tk500‑600 must now choose between fish, vegetables and rice, urging officials to consider those on the low end of the income scale.
Eggs, traditionally an inexpensive protein source, have also risen. A dozen now costs Tk165, while a four‑egg pack is Tk55. Sellers who once discounted a dozen by up to Tk2 no longer offer such reductions.
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Egg vendor Masum reports that farm‑produced eggs are now Tk55 for four, and the upward trend shows no sign of reversing.
Chicken prices have remained stable, with broiler at Tk190 per kilogram and sonali chicken at Tk320. Beef holds at Tk800 per kilogram.
Fish prices continue to offer little relief. Tilapia sells for Tk250‑260 per kilogram, pangas Tk230‑250, rui‑katla Tk380‑420 and shrimp Tk1,000‑1,300. Other species such as pabda, mrigel, deshi koi and farmed koi fall within the Tk300‑800 range, depending on size and type.
Seller Mafizul Islam from New Market says medium‑sized rui is priced at Tk300‑350 per kilogram, while popular river fish like bele command more than Tk1,000 per kilogram due to heightened demand.
Looking ahead, the persistence of tight oil supplies may keep pressure on related commodity prices, especially if global market conditions stay volatile. Even a modest easing of imports could temper the upward drift, but without clear signals from producers, consumers are likely to face continued cost challenges.