RAJSHAHI, June 3: Even after the Eid holidays are nearly over, trade at the country's largest mango wholesale hub, the Baneshwar market in Rajshahi, has yet to pick up momentum.
While the supply of mangoes is increasing every day, the presence of buyers and wholesalers remains low.
The market has become particularly lively since May 30, when harvesting of Himsagar (also known as Khirsapat) mangoes began. However, demand has not kept pace with the rising supply.
A visit to the Baneshwar mango market on May 31 showed mangoes arriving from different areas in small trucks, pickups and vans. The market, set up beside the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway, has expanded along the adjacent vegetable market area. So many vehicles carrying mangoes have arrived that some are lined up along the highway, where sellers are seen quoting prices, though many say they are not getting their expected rates.
According to the district administration's mango calendar, marketing of Himsagar mangoes officially began on May 30. Currently, Himsagar is selling between Tk 1,400 and Tk 1,800 per maund depending on size and quality. Early-season Gopalbhog mangoes are selling at Tk 1,400 to Tk 1,600 per maund. Guti mangoes are priced between Tk 500 and Tk 700, while Laxmanbhog is selling at Tk 700 to Tk 900 per maund.
Grower Md Manju arrived at the market with vans loaded with Gopalbhog and Himsagar mangoes and was seen negotiating prices with traders. While he demanded Tk 1,800 per maund for Himsagar, a trader offered Tk 1,600 and walked away. Later, Manju called him back requesting an additional Tk 50 per maund, but the trader stuck to Tk 1,600 and wrote the price on the mango crate.
"Yesterday I sold Gopalbhog at Tk 1,750. Today, buyers are offering Tk 1,200 or Tk 1,300 for the same mango," he said. "Because of Eid, many wholesalers could not come to the market, so prices have fallen. And you can see how Himsagar is being sold," he added, noting that seasonal production costs are hard to recover without fair prices.
Trader Osman Mia said Himsagar mangoes are now entering the market in a naturally ripened condition. Larger mangoes are fetching relatively better prices, but smaller ones are selling low. "There is plenty of supply, but buyers are few. The situation may improve in a few days," he said, adding that many wholesalers have yet to return after the Eid break.
Another trader, Asim Mia, said the market has improved slightly compared to before Eid, with Himsagar now selling up to Tk 1,800 per maund. However, Gopalbhog did not perform well this season. He said he has invested in around 300 mango trees this year, mostly Laxmanbhog, but prices are lower compared to last year, raising concerns over potential losses.
Grower Kabid Basar also expressed frustration, saying, "Today I sold Himsagar at Tk 1,600 to Tk 1,800 per maund. Supply is high, so the market is weak. It is difficult to say what will happen in the coming days."
Many traders compared the current market with last year's season, noting that prices for Gopalbhog had exceeded Tk 3,500 per maund at the end of the season. This year, however, prices have remained low from the beginning. Trader Bappi said mangoes that sold for Tk 800-900 per crate before Eid are now fetching less than Tk 600.
Despite the slowdown, traders remain hopeful that the market will improve once the Eid holidays fully end and wholesalers from across the country return, increasing demand and possibly stabilising prices.
