Sugar, flour, egg, meat prices remains unchanged at high prices

Essential commodities price including Sugar, flour,egg, meat prices remains largely unchanged at high prices over the past week.

However, some relief has returned to the capital’s kitchen markets as prices of several vegetables have fallen amid increased supply, though high prices of eggplant, tomatoes and beans continue to keep overall market costs elevated.

Two weeks ago, the price hikes, paired with noticeable supply shortages of bottled edible oil and loose sugar, have severely intensified the financial squeeze on everyday consumers already grappling with persistently high protein prices.

Visits to several major wholesale and retail hubs across the capital on Friday, along with conversations with market vendors and shoppers, revealed that loose sugar is currently selling for Tk120 to Tk125 per kg.

Responding to the market shift, refiners have also revised the maximum retail price (MRP) printed on packaged sugar from Tk110 to Tk120 per kg.

A similar inflationary pressure has hit the flour market. Packaged flour (atta) is now retailing at Tk80 per kg, reflecting a Tk10 surge compared to prices recorded 15 to 20 days ago.

Consequently, the printed retail price for a standard 2kg packet of flour has climbed from Tk140 to Tk160.
Traders noted that alongside rising prices, the physical supply of both sugar and packaged edible oil has visibly slowed down, creating sporadic artificial shortages in local neighborhood shops.

While packaged soybean oil holds at the government-fixed Tk200 per litre, loose soybean and palm oil have crept higher to Tk185-190 and Tk165-170 per litre, respectively.

The protein segment offers no immediate relief to lower and middle-income households. Farm eggs remain pegged at historical highs, with a dozen selling for Tk150 to Tk160 in retail markets.

Broiler chicken prices continue to hover between Tk180 and Tk200 per kg, while the indigenous Sonali variety commands Tk300 to Tk320 per kg.

The fish market reflects an equally expensive trend. Cultured staples like Tilapia and Pangas are selling for Tk230 to Tk260 per kg, while medium-to-large Rohu and Catla range from Tk300 to Tk500 per kg.
Premium varieties such as farmed Shing (Tk300-450/kg), Pabda (Tk350-400/kg), and indigenous climbing perch (Tk700-800/kg) remain largely out of reach for general buyers.

Green chilli prices have also fallen somewhat amid increased supply and are now selling for Tk120-140 per kg, depending on quality.

Essential vegetables like aubergine, bitter gourd, and yardlong beans have slipped back to Tk80-120 per kg after previously crossing Tk100.

Meanwhile, core staples such as onions (Tk55-60/kg) and potatoes (Tk25-30/kg) have stayed notably stable.