Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Prices of sugar increased by BDT 2.0 per kg in the kitchen markets of the capital Dhaka due to higher transport cost following the fuel price hike, said traders.
They also blamed the devaluation of Bangladesh Taka (BDT) taka against US dollar for the price-hike.
Sugar price was between BDT 60 and BDT 62 per kg on Friday.
Sugar price increased by 9.91 percent in a month and 8.93 percent year-on-year, according to the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
Sugar sold at BDT 55-57 per kg in mid of January 2011, TCB data showed.
As BDT 57 was charged for a kilogram of sugar at mill gate, the distributors were not interested to procure the item, a wholesaler said, adding, and the refiners also kept themselves aloof from opening letters of credit for the import of sugar due to depreciation of BDT against the US currency.
Moreover, an increased transport cost had pushed up the sugar price, a retailer at Kawran Bazar in Dhaka said.
Other essential items including rice, fish and edible oil maintained the earlier trend while that of onion decreased in the capital.
BBN/SSR/AD-21Jan12-10:50 am (BST)
