After the arrival of imported eggs in the country, the price has started to decrease. At the wholesale level, the price of eggs per 100 pieces has decreased by Rs. 90. This has affected the retail level. A dozen farm chicken eggs are now being sold at retail level in the market for Tk 145 to Tk 150. At the same time, the price of potatoes has also decreased due to imports.
The claim of wholesale and retail traders that prices have fallen due to imports is not true. Their argument is that the demand for eggs increases during monsoon. That’s why the price is high. But now the winter season has started. Many winter vegetables have arrived in the market, including beans, radishes, new potatoes, cauliflower and cabbage. Their prices have also started to come down. Due to these reasons, the demand for eggs is less than before. As a result, prices have fallen.
A dozen eggs reached a record 170 rupees in the country. In such a situation, the import of four crore eggs was allowed in the first phase on September 18 to control the market price. After that, the Ministry of Commerce allowed the import of 6 crore and 5 crore eggs respectively in two more rounds. A total of 15 companies were allowed to import 15 crore eggs in three phases. About 62,000 eggs arrived in the country from India in the first shipment a month and a half after permission was granted.
The import price of each egg is shown as 5 taka 43 paisa. The duty on it is one taka 80 paise. The import cost can range from Tk 9 50 paise to Tk 10 after taking letter of credit or LC, transport and export charges, port and C&F charges. At the retail level, these eggs are supposed to be sold at the rate of Tk 12 per piece.
The news of egg import from India has reduced the price slightly. After searching the egg market of Tejgaon, it is known that the wholesale traders are selling 1000 pieces of eggs for 1 thousand 50 to 1 thousand 70 taka. So far it was sold for 1 thousand 140 to 1 thousand 1160 taka. That is, the price of every 100 pieces of eggs has decreased by 90 taka.
The retail market has also begun to have an impact. On Tuesday, it was found that the brown eggs of each dozen farms are being sold at Tk 145 to Tk 150 per dozen in the capital’s Karwan Bazar, Elka-based small market Tezkunipara and Nakhalpara. However, small traders are selling at the price of 150 taka per dozen in neighborhood shops. Until now, a dozen eggs were sold between Tk 150 and Tk 160.
Jahangir Alam, a wholesale and retail trader at Karwan Bazar, believes that there are several reasons behind the drop in prices. He told Samakal that during rain and clouds, people buy eggs from nearby shops instead of going to the market. This increases the demand for eggs. As a result, the price also increased. But now winter has started. Winter vegetables have started arriving in the market. Many are buying fresh vegetables. As a result, the demand for eggs has decreased. Due to this, the price is also decreasing. However, he thinks that imports also have some effect in reducing prices.
This time too, a kg of potato has increased from 60 to 70 taka in the market. Even after the government strengthened market surveillance, the prices did not come under control. After eggs, the government also allowed the import of potatoes. So far more than one and a half lakh tonnes of potatoes have been allowed to be imported. 2 thousand 700 tons have been imported since last Thursday till today. Prices have started to come down due to the introduction of two types of potatoes in the market, Indian potatoes and domestic new potatoes. At the retail level, a kg of potato is being sold at around Tk 50.
