The price of bottled soybean oil in the Bangladeshi market has increased by 1.57 per cent over the past month and by 12.83 per cent year-on-year.
However, the price of crude soybean oil in the international market fell by 3.03 per cent in the last month, and consumer goods traders believe prices of essential commodities will not rise further during the month of Ramadan.
Despite the decline in global prices, prices of major daily necessities have increased in the local market ahead of Ramadan. However, prices of some items, including chickpeas and dates, have declined slightly. These findings emerged from a review report of the Ministry of Commerce.
The report highlights price differences of rice, flour, edible oil, sugar, lentils, onions, garlic, chickpeas and dates in the local and international markets over the past month and year. It also notes that demand for these items rises significantly during Ramadan.
Sources said there are still three weeks left before the holy month of Ramadan begins.
Meanwhile, the beef market has already started heating up, as observed in several markets on Friday. Traders who previously sold beef at Tk 750 per kg are now charging Tk 780, while many are asking up to Tk 800 per kg. In some markets, beef is being sold at Tk 800 per kg, although sellers claim this price level already existed.
On Friday, beef trader Md Khokon of Segunbagicha market was asking Tk 800 per kg. Some buyers were seen purchasing beef at Tk 780 per kg. However, Khokon said he sells beef at Tk 750 per kg to regular customers.
Explaining the price increase, Khokon said, "It now costs Tk 3,000 to Tk 4,000 more to buy a cow from the market, so the per-kg price has to be kept slightly higher."
Experts say increased demand for various items during Ramadan naturally drives up prices, while manipulation within the supply chain further worsens the situation. They also point to the dominance of corporate entities and weak government regulation as contributing factors.
Khandaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), described the rise in commodity prices as a "game" played by traders.
"When demand increases, many actors in the supply chain take advantage of the situation to maximise profits. They cannot be restrained due to weak government oversight," he said, adding that excessive control by corporate institutions is also an issue.
Meanwhile, traders at Khatunganj- the country's second-largest wholesale market for consumer goods-said prices of most consumer items at the wholesale level are lower than last year. Although prices of newly arrived peas and lentils have risen compared to last month, chickpea prices have declined. Sugar prices are also lower than last year, edible oil prices remain stable, and prices of dates-an essential Ramadan item-are significantly lower than last year.
According to the National Board of Revenue, 230,067 tonnes of chickpeas were released between July 1 and January 28 of the current 2025-26 fiscal year, compared to 132,669 tonnes during the same period of the previous fiscal year-an increase of 70,398 tonnes. Currently, chickpeas are being unloaded from two ships at Chattogram Port.
During the same period, 254,675 tonnes of lentils were imported from India, Nepal and Australia, compared to 311,799 tonnes in the previous fiscal year-a decline of 47,123 tonnes. However, lentils are currently being unloaded simultaneously from four ships at Chattogram Port.
From July 1 to January 28 of the current fiscal year, 217,796 tonnes of peas were imported from India, Canada and Australia. During the same period of the 2024-25 fiscal year, imports stood at 255,395 tonnes.
Despite disruptions in unloading due to a lighterage crisis at the port, importers across the country have sufficient stocks in their warehouses. As a result, prices of consumer goods are expected to remain stable during Ramadan, said Md Mohiuddin, General Secretary of the Chaktai-Khatunganj Aratdar General Traders Welfare Association.
According to Chattogram Port authorities, around 66,000 tonnes of chickpeas are currently being unloaded from two ships that arrived on January 6 and January 15. In addition, four ships are unloading lentils, including MV Shakespeare Bay, which arrived from Australia on January 29 carrying 19,497 tonnes. Another 79,000 tonnes of lentils are being unloaded from three other vessels.
Traders said prices of fine-grain lentils have increased compared to last year, but Australian coarse-grain lentils remain cheaper due to carryover stocks from the previous year.
Md Mohiuddin said, "A large number of letters of credit (LCs) have been opened ahead of Ramadan this year. There is sufficient stock of chickpeas, peas and lentils. Chickpeas, lentils, dates, peas, edible oil and sugar are being unloaded regularly at the port as Ramadan essentials."
