Price of spices shoots up in Bangladesh

Spices have joined the commodity price rally following the diesel price hike in early November. Traders in Chattogram's Khatunganj - one of the key wholesale commodity hubs in Bangladesh - said price hikes in the international market have caused the spike in the domestic market. But consumers do not buy the claim, and point fingers at the wholesalers for cashing in on the recent fuel price hike. At Khatunganj, cumin, cardamom and cashew nuts prices have edged up by Tk100-110 per kg since last week. At the market, Indian cumin varieties are at Tk310 to 320 per kg, while Iranian cumin varieties are at Tk410 to 420 per kg. Even a week ago, the item was at least Tk50-60 less per kg. Cinnamon is at Tk300 per kg, up from Tk290, cloves Tk800 per kg, black pepper Tk525, and cardamom is at Tk1,860, up from Tk1,750 a week ago. Cashew nuts are at Tk730 per kg, up from Tk620 a week ago and raisins are at Tk265-270 per kg, up by Tk50-55 per kg. The price of isabgol (Psyllium husk) has ...