Prices of imported garlic and some summer vegetables increased significantly in the city markets last week, adding to woes of the consumers.
Imported garlic (Chinese) was sold at Tk 120-Tk 140 a kilogram in the retail market on Thursday. Earlier, its price ranged between Tk 90 and Tk 120 per kg.
Price of local variety of garlic, however, remained static at Tk 50-Tk 80 a kg in the retail market.
Md Jewel Rana, a grocer at Shankar in Dhanmondi, said garlic prices increased by Tk 18-Tk 20 per kg at Shyambazar and Karwan Bazar wholesale markets in last few days.
He bought imported garlic at Tk 4,350 a maund (37.32kg) at Karwan Bazar on Thursday morning, which was Tk 3,850 a few days back.
Narayan Chandra Saha, a leading spice importer at Shaymbazar in the capital, said the spice price increased significantly recently due to a rise in import costs.
He said China, the biggest exporter of the item in the world, has raised the prices of garlic following a low production there.
Import cost rose to $1000-$1050 per tonne last month from $800-$850 a tonne, he said.
Md Altaf Hossain Mintu, a Karwan Bazar-based trader, said there is no shortage of supply as local garlic is available on the wholesale market at Tk 50-Tk 80 a kg.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and the Ministry of Commerce, local garlic production was 0.35 million tonnes in 2017 against a demand for 0.6 million tonnes.
Prices of some summer vegetables, which showed a downtrend two weeks back, increased again in last seven days.
Bitter gourd, snake gourd, ridge gourd, okra and pointed gourd witnessed a Tk 5-Tk 10 hike per kg during the period.
Those summer vegetables were sold between Tk 50-Tk 80 a kg.
Prices of seasonal ash gourd and bottle gourd also rose slightly and sold at Tk 35-Tk 60 per piece.
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com