Spice market heats up before Eid

Consumers are facing fresh pressure ahead of Eid-ul-Azha as prices of spices and several essential food items have risen sharply in the capital’s kitchen markets.

The price surge has made festive shopping difficult for many households, especially middle-income families already struggling with high living costs.

Market visits show that prices of key spices have increased over the past few days. Cardamom is now selling for Tk4,600-5,500 per kg, cloves for Tk1,800-2,000, cumin for Tk700-800, cinnamon for Tk550-600 and coriander powder for more than Tk300 per kg.

Prices of ginger, garlic and onions have also gone up.

The rise is not limited to spices. Traders said higher Eid demand has pushed up prices of polao rice, edible oil, semai, salad items and dry foods.

Polao rice, one of the main ingredients for Eid meals, is now selling for Tk150-160 per kg, up from around Tk130 a few days ago. Branded fragrant rice costs Tk170-175 per kg, while loose aromatic rice is being sold for Tk140-150.

The dessert market has also become costlier. A 200-gram packet of semai is selling for Tk40-45, while an 800-gram packet of Bombay semai costs around Tk280. Open laccha semai is priced at Tk180 per kg. Buyers said prices of noodles have also increased across several brands.

Edible oil remains another concern. Loose soybean oil is selling for Tk190-200 per litre, while bottled oil shortages in some shops have forced consumers to pay above the printed retail price. Buyers alleged that some retailers were charging Tk5-10 more per litre than the listed price.

Traders blamed the price hike on rising import costs, transport expenses, supply constraints and increased pre-Eid demand.

However, the poultry and egg market has offered some relief. Broiler chicken prices have dropped to Tk170-180 per kg from more than Tk190 a few days ago. Golden chicken is selling for Tk330-350 per kg, while local chicken remains high at Tk600-650.

Egg prices have also fallen to Tk135-140 per dozen, down by Tk10-15 from last week. Beef prices remain unchanged at Tk800 per kg.

Mashrafe Hasan, a customer at Raisaheb Bazar, said he felt some relief after buying broiler chicken at Tk180 per kg, compared with nearly Tk200 earlier.

Chicken seller Anisur Rahman said prices had dropped due to improved supply.

Vegetable prices have remained relatively stable, with most items selling for Tk60-80 per kg. However, salad items used heavily during Eid remain costly. Cucumbers are selling for Tk60-70 per kg, tomatoes for Tk80-90 and green chillies for Tk100-120.

Mahbub Alam, a private-sector employee shopping for Eid, said managing festival expenses has become increasingly difficult.

“Almost everything has become more expensive – rice, spices, oil, semai and noodles. Managing Eid shopping within a fixed income is becoming extremely difficult,” he said.

He urged authorities to strengthen market monitoring to protect consumers from excessive pricing.