Ramadan's fruit fest has turned forbidding for fixed-income families. From wholesale hubs to neighborhood stalls, prices of both imported and local fruits have climbed steeply, leaving buyers counting coins instead of calories.
Traders and shoppers alike say imported apples, oranges, grapes, pomegranates, plums and pears now cost Tk 50 to Tk 100 more per kilogram than before Ramadan. Even with 67,000 tonnes more fruit imported this year compared to last, retail prices remain stubbornly high.
A pre-Ramadan cut in import duty on dates-from 25 percent to 15 percent-has yet to sweeten the market. Overall, fruit prices are up about 30 percent from last Ramadan, pushing them beyond the reach of the poor and squeezing the lower and middle classes.
Importers cite higher global prices and transport costs. Buyers counter with familiar accusations of Ramadan-time syndicates. Market visits on Thursday revealed frustration on both sides of the counter. Analysts warn that traders appear to be chasing windfall profits instead of fair margins and urge the government to scrutinize import costs and sales data to steady the market.
Importers argue that Ramadan demand naturally nudges prices upward and insist shipments are arriving daily, promising adjustments soon. Buyers remain unconvinced. "Fruits are essential for iftar, but these hikes have made them a luxury," said one shopper, noting Tk 50 to Tk 100 jumps within a week.
A tour of Karwan Bazar, Hatirpul and Mohammadpur Town Hall markets found no good-quality imported fruit selling below Tk 300 per kg. As foreign fruit prices soar, demand for local watermelon, banana, papaya, bel and pineapple has strengthened, with many priced around Tk 200 per kg.
Watermelon leads sales, retailing at Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg; a three-kilogram fruit costs Tk 240 to Tk 300. Md Shahjahan, a Karwan Bazar vendor, said most current stock is early-harvest produce. Larger, in-season arrivals expected in April may cool prices.
Among less common fruits, pineapples sell at Tk 30 to Tk 60 apiece, bel at Tk 80 to Tk 200 depending on size, ripe papaya at Tk 80 to Tk 120 per kg, melon at Tk 80 to Tk 100, and sapodilla (safeda) at Tk 150 to Tk 180. Off-season atafal fetches Tk 250 to Tk 300 per kg, while dragon fruit commands Tk 300 to Tk 400.
Nuruddin Ahmed, general secretary of the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association, said wholesale fruit sales in Dhaka total Tk 200 to Tk 250 crore daily, with 90 to 95 percent imported. He attributed the spike to delayed pre-Ramadan shipments and predicted relief within days. High foreign fruit prices, he added, have slightly boosted demand for local produce.
Date prices remain elevated: Zahidi Tk 300 per kg, Barai Tk 500, Mabrum Tk 1,100, Saudi Maryam Tk 1,000, Ajwa Tk 1,290, Kalmi Tk 800, Medjool Tk 1,600 to Tk 1,800, Khurma Tk 360, Adam Tk 600 and Sukkari Tk 900.
Saikat Khandaker, a buyer, said he expected prices to ease as Ramadan progressed. "But nothing has fallen. For many of us, fruit is now a luxury."
Official data show fruit imports reached 280,944 tonnes this season, up from 213,607 tonnes a year earlier-an increase of about 67,000 tonnes. Despite roughly Tk 5,000 crore worth of imports, retail prices are at least 30 percent higher than last year, keeping Ramadan's fruit bowl tantalizing but tough to afford.
