Economic Reporter :
Prices of most of the imported goods from China have been increased abnormally in the country due to the outbreak of Coronovirus discouraged importers to cut down import, causing supply shortage.
Prices of Chinese cooking ingredients such as onion, ginger, garlic, fruits and electric raw materials have been increased.
China is the largest import destination for the country as Bangladesh imported products worth $13.64 billion in 2018-19 fiscal year. A large portion of locally consumed fruits and essential cooking items are typically imported from the world’s second largest economy.
Visiting several kitchen markets in the capital including Malibagh, Rampura, Shukrabad and Karwan Bazar, it was found that prices of Chinese garlic, onion, ginger, apple, orange and other fruits were selling 30-50 percent higher than weeks earlier.
Importers said prices of agriculture products from China having huge demand in the country for their low prices and good qualities would soar further as they stopped sourcing those from China amid fear of the virus outbreak.
“We are not importing anything from China since the first week of last month as wholesalers and traders are unwilling to buy from us amid customers’ low demand for Chinese food items,” said Md Mazed, an importer and Vice-president of Shyambazar Bonik Somiti.
“Now majority importers of the country stopped importing from China,” he added, saying that the supply shortage caused the price hike for Chinese cooking ingredients and seasonal fruits.
In retail markets, the Chinese onion was found selling at Tk100-110 a kg, which was Tk50-60 two weeks before. The jump in the prices of the Chinese onion impacted the prices of other varieties of onion, both local and imported varieties, in the kitchen markets.
Garlic imported from China also jumped to Tk200 per kg from Tk140-150 last week, while ginger price increased by Tk30-40 to Tk160-170 per kg.
The prices of these items were also found soaring at major wholesale markets in the capital on the same ground of supply shortage.
Besides, fruits imported from China were found in small quantity in the markets at higher prices than the normal time. Prices of apple, orange and grapes imported from the country were found increased by Tk20-30 per kg.
Visiting different fruit markets, this correspondent found that traders were selling the Chinese fruits in the names of other countries such as Pakistan and Vietnam to clear their stocks.
When asked, a trader at Labib Fol Bitan(Labib Fruit Stall) at Rampura said, ” We sell Chinese apples and grapes in the fake names of Australian, or Indian ones. Nobody buy the fruits if their China-origin is disclosed.”
Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association Secretary Rakib Hossain said the importers themselves stopped importing from China willingly out of fear and loss in their business.
Meanwhile, prices of the most of the electric goods and its raw materials have been increased by up to Tk 100-50.
Prices of most of the imported goods from China have been increased abnormally in the country due to the outbreak of Coronovirus discouraged importers to cut down import, causing supply shortage.
Prices of Chinese cooking ingredients such as onion, ginger, garlic, fruits and electric raw materials have been increased.
China is the largest import destination for the country as Bangladesh imported products worth $13.64 billion in 2018-19 fiscal year. A large portion of locally consumed fruits and essential cooking items are typically imported from the world’s second largest economy.
Visiting several kitchen markets in the capital including Malibagh, Rampura, Shukrabad and Karwan Bazar, it was found that prices of Chinese garlic, onion, ginger, apple, orange and other fruits were selling 30-50 percent higher than weeks earlier.
Importers said prices of agriculture products from China having huge demand in the country for their low prices and good qualities would soar further as they stopped sourcing those from China amid fear of the virus outbreak.
“We are not importing anything from China since the first week of last month as wholesalers and traders are unwilling to buy from us amid customers’ low demand for Chinese food items,” said Md Mazed, an importer and Vice-president of Shyambazar Bonik Somiti.
“Now majority importers of the country stopped importing from China,” he added, saying that the supply shortage caused the price hike for Chinese cooking ingredients and seasonal fruits.
In retail markets, the Chinese onion was found selling at Tk100-110 a kg, which was Tk50-60 two weeks before. The jump in the prices of the Chinese onion impacted the prices of other varieties of onion, both local and imported varieties, in the kitchen markets.
Garlic imported from China also jumped to Tk200 per kg from Tk140-150 last week, while ginger price increased by Tk30-40 to Tk160-170 per kg.
The prices of these items were also found soaring at major wholesale markets in the capital on the same ground of supply shortage.
Besides, fruits imported from China were found in small quantity in the markets at higher prices than the normal time. Prices of apple, orange and grapes imported from the country were found increased by Tk20-30 per kg.
Visiting different fruit markets, this correspondent found that traders were selling the Chinese fruits in the names of other countries such as Pakistan and Vietnam to clear their stocks.
When asked, a trader at Labib Fol Bitan(Labib Fruit Stall) at Rampura said, ” We sell Chinese apples and grapes in the fake names of Australian, or Indian ones. Nobody buy the fruits if their China-origin is disclosed.”
Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association Secretary Rakib Hossain said the importers themselves stopped importing from China willingly out of fear and loss in their business.
Meanwhile, prices of the most of the electric goods and its raw materials have been increased by up to Tk 100-50.
