There are few more days left for Eid. In the meantime, the prices of several spices have increased. Even though the price of cumin decreased last week, the price of cardamom which is used to make semai, and cardamom, a spice for cooking all kinds of meat, is increasing nearly two times. Common people are worried about it.
It was found from the analysis of the market price of the last two days, a kilogram of cardamom was Tk1500 three months ago, now it has increased to 2600; and what was 1400, its kg is now Tk 2800 to Tk 3000. Another cardamom was Tk 2500 per kg; it has now become Tk 4000. The price has increased by about Tk 1500 in two months. Black pepper, nutmeg, and white pepper have increased by Tk100-150 per kg. Peanuts have increased by Tk 60. The price of cashew nuts increased more than Tk 200. Among the spices, only one or two items including cumin have been reduced in price. A week ago cumin was selling at Tk 650.
The capital's two major wholesale spice markets, Moulvibazar and Karwan Bazar, are now selling cumin at Tk 600 to Tk 700 per kg, cardamom at Tk 2,200 to Tk 3,000, cinnamon at Tk 400 to Tk 450, cloves at Tk 1,350 and pepper at Tk 750 to Tk 790 per kg.
After visiting the retail markets of Rampura, Badda, Joarsahara, it was found that cumin are being sold at Tk 700 to Tk 850 per kg. Cardamom is being sold at Tk 2,500 to Tk 3400, cinnamon at Tk 500 to Tk 550, and cloves at Tk 1,400 to Tk 1,600. Onion is being sold at Tk 50 to Tk 60 per kg, while local garlic is being sold at Tk 130 to Tk 150 per kg. Imported garlic is being sold at Tk 220 per kg and ginger at Tk 200 to Tk 240 per kg.
Asma Akter came to buy spices. She told the media that prices are being charged higher than the price list. Many shops on the ground were not seen to hang price lists.
The owner of Badda Masalla Bitan said that Cardamom and cinnamon price is high. But the price of cumin, which was sold up to Tk 1,200 last Eid, has decreased and is now being sold at Tk 700.
Enayet Ullah, President of Bangladesh Wholesale Garam Masala Traders Association, said the media that due to the decrease in the prices of some spices in the international market, the local market has also decreased. The price of cumin has halved in the last six to seven months. If cumin could be imported now at the previous dollar price, it would be possible to sell it at Tk 400 in the local market. After a few days, new cumin seeds from India and China will enter the market, and then the price will decrease further.
Sadeka Mobasshera, employee of a private company, came to buy spices at Kawran Bazaar. She said that compared to last Eid and even compared to the last two months the prices of the some essential spices have reduced though still, this is beyond the normal economic situation. She added that she doesn't know from when exactly all the necessary goods and meat prices will reduce its sky-high situation. But I am happy right at the moment as I can dare to buy some spices even after all that uncertainty and high prices in the market.
With the change in people's living standards, the demand for packaged spices is increasing. The market of packaged spices is also growing. At one time turmeric and chili powder were ground by machines in rural areas, but now there is an appreciation for packaged spice powders in rural as well as urban areas.
Some of the well-known brands in the powder masala market include Square's 'Radhuni', Pran' powder masala, Bashundhara powder masala, ACI Pure, ACME, BD, Fresh etc. The establishments are selling various grades of mixed masala including chilli, turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala, beef and chicken masala, fish masala, fuchka-chattar masala, biryani masala, haleem mix.
When asked, Pran-RFL Group Director (Marketing) Kamruzzaman Kamal told the media that we are supplying two types of spices in the market – plain and mixed. Besides, we are also exporting to different countries of the world. The price of packaged spices in the country has increased by 5 to 10 percent in the last one year. The growth has been 8 to 10 percent.
Bashundhara Food Divisional Head (Sales and Distribution) Redwanur Rahman said, people are losing confidence in open masalas, due to which the demand for packaged masalas is increasing. However, due to high inflation, the demand for packaged spices is not increasing as expected. Many people have also reduced the amount of spice consumption compared to before.
He said, the import of spices from India has increased through Hili land port in Dinajpur. In a span of three months, the price of cumin has decreased by Tk 500 to Tk 600 per kg. After visiting Banglahilli market last Friday afternoon, it was seen that different brands of cumin packets were arranged in the spice shops. Indian imported kaka cumin is selling at Tk 600, baba cumin at Tk 620, honey cumin at Tk 620, amrit cumin at Tk 600, gold cumin at Tk 630 and DB gold cumin at Tk 640 per kg. Three months ago Indian cumin was sold at the rate of Tk 1100 to Tk 1200 per kg at the retail level, but now it is selling at Tk 600.
Abdul Awal Sabuj of Bismillah Masala House said that cumin yield has been very good in India this season. Importing has been increased through Hili port. As a result, the price of cumin has gradually decreased by Tk 550 per kg in the last three months.
ZH
