Better supply makes onions cheaper
Traders said that the onion prices are witnessing a down-trend due to a large supply of new locally-grown onions and imports from China
The price of local onions has decreased by Tk100 per kg in the last three weeks, currently selling for Tk100-110 per kg at different kitchen markets across Dhaka.
Locally grown onions were being sold for Tk220-240 per kg just three weeks ago.
Imported onions are available for less than Tk100 per kg.
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On Friday morning, in different kitchen markets in the capital, traders were selling Chinese onions for Tk70-80 per kg, which was Tk100 even one week ago. Low quality onions were also available at the kitchen markets, selling for Tk40-60 per kg.
At the Karwan Bazar wholesale market, new locally-grown onions were selling for Tk90-95 per kg, Chinese onions for Tk60 per kg, onions imported from Turkey for Tk100 and from Myanmar for Tk100-120 per kg.
Traders said that the price of onions are witnessing a down-trend due to a large supply of new locally-grown onions and imports from China.
According to sources, in the first few weeks after India's ban on onion export to Bangladesh, five to seven trucks loaded with the kitchen ingredients used to enter Karwan Bazar daily, each containing 16-18 tonnes of onions.
Later, the number of such trucks decreased to only one per day.
"A month ago, we did not even get one truck full of onion each day. The price was also very high. Now, 3-4 trucks fully loaded with onions comes to the market every day. Large amount of onions imported from China are entering the market daily," said Nurul Haque, one of the wholesalers of Karwan Bazar.
He added that this is why the prices went down, but the current market demand is quite low.
Winter vegetable prices also drop
The price of newly grown potato has also decreased by Tk20-30 over the past two weeks. Two weeks ago, potatoes were sold for Tk60 per kg, which is currently selling for Tk30-40 per kg at city kitchen markets.
Price of old potato has also decreased by Tk5, selling for Tk25 per kg on Friday.
Tomatoes were being sold for Tk100 per kg two weeks ago. On Friday, traders were selling it for Tk50-80 per kg depending on variety and quality.
Okra was selling for Tk80 per kg two weeks ago, currently it is selling for Tk60 per kg. Beans were Tk40-65 two weeks ago, which is Tk20-30 on Friday. Papaya was being sold for Tk30 per kg two weeks ago, but are now being sold for Tk25 per kg.
Both cauliflower and cabbage were sold for Tk40-45 per piece two weeks ago. Now both items are selling for Tk35-40 per piece.
