Prices of flour, pulses, spices on the rise

Though prices of some vegetables decreased during the week past as compared to the preceding week, rates of flour, pulses, spices and rice registered a significant increase, reveals a survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Saturday. Traders and wholesalers in different markets of the twin cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad revealed that due to sufficient supply, the demand-supply gap narrowed which resulted in easing vegetables prices.
They further maintained that pulses prices registered a significant increase during the week past. Price of entire range of pulses including mash washed moong, masoor and beans has gone up by Rs 8-10 per kg. Further shortage of flour was observed in some markets of the twin cities, it was being sold at Rs 830 per 20 kg bag against the government fixed price of Rs 790, wherever it was available. Similarly, rice prices each of Basmati and Supper colonel increased by Rs 5-10 respectively the week past as compared to the preceding week. The survey noted a significant decline in vegetables prices past week as compared to the previous week. Tomatoes, which were being sold at Rs 150-180 per kg one week ago was now available at Rs 110-120 per kg, onions was available at Rs 75-80 per kg against Rs 90-100 per kg, potatoes at Rs 60-70 per kg against Rs 90-100 per kg, cabbage at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 90 per kg, peas at Rs 150 per kg against Rs 160 per kg, carrot at Rs 120 per kg against Rs 150 per kg, radish at Rs 70-80 per kg against Rs 100 per kg, arvi at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 70 per kg, cucumber at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 65-70 per kg, ladyfinger at Rs 120 per kg against Rs 130-150 per kg and shimla mirch was being sold at Rs 150 per kg against Rs 180 per kg during the week past as compared to the preceding week.
Eggs were being sold at Rs 120 per dozen against Rs 150 per dozen, reflecting a decline of Rs 30 per dozen during the week past as compared to the preceding week. Further chicken was available at Rs 150-160 per kg in different markets against Rs 170-180 per kg. Sugar, gur and ghee/cocking oil prices remained stable in the week past as compared to the preceding week.
The survey noted a mix trend in fruit prices as some prices increased while other registered a slight decline during the week past as compared to the preceding week. Apple was available at 120-180 against Rs 130-200 per kg depending on quality, banana prices registered increase as it was being sold at Rs 60-120 per dozen against Rs 50-100 per dozen, grapes were available at Rs 200-300 per kg and guava at Rs 60-80 per kg last week without any significant change as compared to the preceding week.

News Source: Business Recorder    News Collected: agrinfobank.com Team

Pulses import falls 20 percent during 11 months

July 14, 2013 

Pulses import fell 20 percent during 11 months of fiscal year 2012-13 as traders had stopped placing global orders for the commodity anticipating a "big" yield in the country, importers say. Importers continued speculating on the country's better crop prospects this year, estimated at least one million tons of pulses production, which largely held them back to place more orders for the commodity during last fiscal year.
Pakistan imported $302.374 million of pulses during July-May period of fiscal year 2012-13 as compared to the commodity's import in the same period during 2011-12, showing a fall of $75.365 million or 20 percent, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics indicate.
Wholesalers say the local production pulses are higher than expected which is hoped to bring down the prices of commodity with its improved supplies to local markets. They say the country's pulses yield is about one million tons this year which is about 0.3 million tons greater than the local consumption. They say the pulses prices on the local market will also go down about 30 percent after the "huge" crop arrival.
This year, the wholesale rate of Daal Channa is Rs 62 per kg which last year was Rs 98 the price of Kabuli Channa is Rs 72 per kg came down from Rs 135 last year, they point out. In terms of volume, the country's pulses import fell 150,409 tons or 26 percent to 434,781 tons during July-May 2012-13 from 587,190 tons during the same period of fiscal year 2011-12, the PBS suggests.
Pakistan imports pulses mainly from Australia, Burma, Tanzania and Ethiopia to meet local demand for the commodity every year. However importers say the import of commodity will reduce in next year as well. Wholesalers hope the fresh yield will help keep stable prices of pulses during the holy month of Ramazan. The country had lost the pulses crop because of the winter cold that reduced the yield phenomenally.

Source: Business Recorder
News Collected by agrinfobank.com Team