Retail markets in the capital continue to experience shortages of bottled soybean oil, while prices for chicken have risen amid increased demand linked to the Durga Puja holidays, according to multiple vendors and consumers surveyed on Friday. The scarcity of soybean oil and the climb in poultry prices are adding to concerns over the affordability and availability of essential food items.
Shops across areas including Segunbagicha, Dhanmondi, and Mohammadpur reported limited stocks of bottled soybean oil in common sizes ranging from 500 milliliters to five liters. Several consumers said they had to visit multiple outlets to find their preferred brands, with some resorting to purchasing loose soybean oil, which is selling at about Tk 200 per liter. The government-fixed price for bottled soybean oil currently stands at Tk 204 per liter, with a five-liter bottle priced at Tk 1,000 following a Tk 5 increase implemented in early September.
Retailers pointed to narrow profit margins and upfront cash payment demands from suppliers as key factors discouraging small shopkeepers from stocking bottled soybean oil. A retailer at Mohammadpur Krishi Market indicated he had ceased selling the product due to a profit margin of just Tk 1 per liter and inconsistent deliveries. Others noted that selling packaged oil entailed additional challenges, including pressure to carry other products and difficulties in providing the correct change during transactions.
Suppliers have also reportedly ended credit arrangements previously extended to retailers, requiring payment in cash upon delivery. This shift has placed added financial strain on small businesses with limited working capital. Some shopkeepers alleged that suppliers are favoring larger supermarket chains, where bottled soybean oil remains more accessible, while smaller outlets face persistent supply difficulties despite prior price adjustments.
Meanwhile, the prices of broiler and Sonali chickens have increased over the past week. Broiler chicken, which was retailing between Tk 180 and Tk 190 per kilogram last week, is now priced between Tk 200 and Tk 210 per kilogram. Sonali chicken prices have risen to Tk 350 to Tk 360 per kilogram from Tk 320 to Tk 330 during the same period.
A trader in West Dhanmondi attributed the poultry price hikes to a recent reduction in farm supplies, rising transportation costs, and higher prices for poultry feed, which have increased overall wholesale costs.
In contrast, egg prices have eased somewhat, with brown eggs dropping from Tk 155-160 to Tk 145-150 per dozen over the past week. An egg trader in Segunbagicha Bazar attributed this trend to normalized wholesale supplies following government monitoring efforts and suggested prices may fall further if supply levels are maintained.
Markets have also begun receiving winter vegetables, though prices for newly harvested produce remain relatively high. Cauliflower and cabbage are selling for Tk 50 to Tk 60 each, while country beans are priced at Tk 140 to Tk 160 per kilogram, about Tk 20 higher than the previous week. Radish prices range from Tk 70 to Tk 80 per kilogram. A trader at Mohammadpur Krishi Market indicated that elevated vegetable prices are expected to persist for at least another month.