Ramadan market captured by 31 countries

Six essential food commodities have been imported from 31 countries for the month of Ramadan, according to Chattogram Port Authority.  

A large amount of these items have been imported from Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Argentina, India, Malaysia, Paraguay, Russia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada.

The six essential items are sugar, edible oil, dates, peas, masuri dal (the common variety of lentils) and chickpeas.

A total of 1,618,613 tonnes of these commodities worth Tk 82.67 billion were imported between January and April. 

Some of these commodities are not produced in the country while some are produced, but can't meet the demand.  

Traders have imported huge amounts of dates this year. A total of 43,000 tonnes of dates, worth Tk 2.40 billion, arrived through the Chattogram port in four months.    

Dates are imported from 17 countries including UAE, Algeria, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Oman.

Proprietor of Faruk Trade International Faruk Ahmed said the demand for dates differs from one consumer to another.  

Different quality of dates are imported from different countries, he said, adding dates for the poor section of people are imported from Iraq while high quality dates are imported from Iran.

Chickpeas are also a favourite item during Ramadan and 92 per cent of chickpeas imported by Bangladesh come from Australia, 11,000 kilometres away. India is the largest grower of chickpeas, but Bangladesh only imports a small amount from India. Chickpeas are imported from nine countries including Ethiopia, Myanmar and Bhutan. A total of Tk 8.31 billion is spent to import chickpeas.    

During Ramadan peas are also consumed widely. Once Canada was the largest source of Bangladesh pea import and 88 per cent was imported from Canada last year. This has come down to less than one per cent this year. Now Russia, Ukraine and Australia captured the market.

A total of 35,422 tonnes of peas are imported from Russia, which is 66 per cent of the total import. A total of Tk 2.59 billion spent to import peas. 

Of the edible oil, soybean and palm oil are totally imported. Bangladesh mainly imports palm oil from Indonesia with 85 per cent palm oil coming from Indonesia in four months. Only 14 per cent palm oil is imported from Malaysia.

Some 51 per cent soybean is imported from Argentina, which was 77 per cent in the corresponding period of last year. Some 24 per cent oil is imported from Brazil. Soybean is also being imported from Paraguay for last two years.  

Traders import unrefined sugar mainly from Brazil.

Brazil would have captured the entire sugar market if Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation had not imported sugar from India.