Sugar, dhal and chillies, among other food items, have gone up in price over the past few weeks as a result of shortages.
Traders explained the price increases, which range from Rs.5 to Rs.10 per kilogramme, to depleted stocks, although one trader said such shortages were not unusual in the market, and that conditions would soon return to normal.
K. P. Sundaram, president of the Old Moor Street Trade Association, said international market prices do not necessarily affect local prices. “Prices of food items are determined by available stock,” he said. “When stocks drop, traders push up the prices. Once the stocks are replenished, prices come back to normal.”
This week sugar went up from Rs.75 to Rs. 85 per kilo; chillies from Rs.180 to Rs.210, and dhal from Rs.195 to Rs.205. Coriander went up by Rs.15 per kilo.
Mr. Sundaram said vegetable prices have shown a slight drop this month, now that supplies are flowing freely from Badulla and Jaffna.
“In the past, because of the conflict in the North and East, traders were wary of maintaining large stocks, so they limited their imports. We would stock up for about 10 days at a time. If there were any delays with imports, prices would go up,” he said.
Mr. Sundaram said available stocks would last a month, and that prices would stabilise in the coming weeks once more stocks arrived. |
E-mail