Onion Prices Falls to Tk30 a Kg

After around eight months, the price of onion come down to Tk30 per kg in the retail market of Dhaka due to falling demand as most restaurants are shut amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The vendors said local varieties of onions are available in the markets amid the shutdown period. Besides, bad weather had an impact on the prices. That’s why the prices had fallen in the capital market.

Onion prices shot up to Tk280 to Tk300 last November in the kitchen markets due to supply crunch after the Indian government banned the export of onions to Bangladesh last September.

While visiting several kitchen markets, the correspondent found each kg imported onion was selling at Tk30 while local ones cost Tk40-45. On the other hand, the onions were selling Tk15-20 in the wholesale market.

Mohammad Hafiz Uddin, an importer of the country’s biggest wholesale market Shyambazar, said that the prices decreased vastly due to less demand from buyers as maximum hotels are shut due to coronavirus outbreak.

''There's enough supply of local onion and Indian onions are entering the country in small amounts. Besides, recent bad weather amid the shutdown affected the market too,'' he said.

Hafiz Uddin said he sold per kg onion for Tk10 to Tk20 based on their quality on Friday. ''We don’t get enough customers, that’s why we have to sell it at low prices,'' he added.

Another wholesaler at Kawranbazar, Sobhan Talukder said he was selling five kg onions at Tk100-120.

''Adequate supply has driven down the prices. Before September last year, we sold onion at Tk20-25, but the prices shot up from October to December due to the supply crunch. Now the prices have become normal again,'' he said.

Kazi Masum, a shopkeeper of old Dhaka said he sold each kg imported onion at Tk30 and local good one at Tk40-45.

''We have to sell all products at slightly higher prices compared to the wholesale market as we have a huge cost. I have to pay Tk40,000 as the rent of the shop. Besides, we have to spend on house rent and feed our families. So, there is no way to make some extra profit,'' he added.

Mohsin Bepari, a street vendor of Bangshal of the city, said he sold per kg onion for Tk30-40. ''Several months ago, we purchased onion at high prices and had to sell at high prices. We have nothing to do. The price depends on the wholesale market,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the prices of each kg green chili also came down to Tk30-40 which was double in Ramadan in the retail market. Besides, per kg, good quality garlic and ginger were selling at Tk120 to Tk150 respectively for the last several weeks.

However, different vegetable and spice prices come down after Eid vacation as many city dwellers left the city for villages to celebrate Eid. But now vegetable prices are going up gradually due to the reopening of small hotels and many returned to the city.

Hasibur Rahman, a resident of Najirabazar, said he bought each kg vegetables at Tk20-30 after two days of Eid but the prices increased to Tk40-50 now.

''I purchased big seized onion at Tk30 per kg, sponge gourd at Tk40 and potato at Tk30 on Friday. The prices will shoot up once the coronavirus shutdown ends. So the markets should be monitored properly,'' he said.

Source: UNB