Bottled soybean oil scarce as chicken, vegetable prices rise

Consumers are facing significant discomfort in the essential commodities market as packaged soybean oil is scarcely available.

‘Sonali’ chicken is being sold at record-high prices, while hardly any vegetables, apart from papaya and carrots, are available below Tk 80. Overall, the situation has put considerable strain on low-income households.

A visit to several wholesale and retail markets in the capital on Friday, April 10, showed that while 5-litre soybean oil bottles are still available, smaller packs of half-litre, 1-litre, and 2-litre bottles are largely missing from shelves. In many shops, loose soybean oil is being sold above government-fixed prices, with increases of Tk 20 to Tk 30 per litre.

The government-set price for 1-litre bottled soybean oil is Tk 195. However, loose soybean oil is currently selling at Tk 200–210 per litre, while palm oil is being sold at Tk 180–190 per litre against its fixed price of Tk 164.

Retailers said supply from distributors has remained inconsistent for over a month, with some suppliers reportedly stopping order intake in recent days. They also alleged that companies are restricting supplies or linking oil delivery with the purchase of other products.

Enamul Haque, a shop owner at Rampura market, said, “Companies are not taking orders. Some are asking us to buy other products along with oil. We are sourcing from different wholesale markets to continue sales.”

Meanwhile, poultry and vegetable prices have also added pressure on consumers. Sonali chicken, which recently reached record highs, is currently selling at Tk 400–420 per kg, down from Tk 450 last week. Broiler chicken is selling at Tk 185–200 per kg.

Poultry farmer Abdul Jalil said disease outbreaks, including suspected avian influenza cases, have reduced supply in the market, contributing to price volatility. Traders added that higher prices have also weakened demand.

Egg prices have also increased, with farm eggs selling at Tk 115–120 per dozen, up from around Tk 110 a week earlier. In some neighborhood shops, prices have reached Tk 125–130 per dozen.

Vegetable prices have surged following recent rainfall, with most items now selling at around Tk 80 per kg or higher. Potatoes remain relatively stable at Tk 25 per kg, while papaya and carrots are priced at Tk 40–50 per kg.

Other vegetables such as pointed gourd and okra are selling at Tk 60–80 per kg, while beans, snake gourd, and bitter gourd range between Tk 80–120 per kg. Kakarol is selling at Tk 120–160 per kg.

Despite the overall increase, green chili and onion prices remain comparatively stable at Tk 80–100 per kg and Tk 30–35 per kg, respectively.

NH/MHK