Business
Frozen food exporters say: Prices of Hilsha unlikely to go down despite ban on export
By Staff Reporter
Sat, 7 Jul 2007, 22:35:00

The prices of Hilsha are unlikely to go down in local markets although the government has imposed restrictions on export of this delicious fish.

Besides, the supply of Hilsha in local market is unlikely to increase to meet the growing demands of customers in local markets. According to the leaders of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA), the government's intervention is needed right from the level of fishermen to the level of retailers to bring down the prices of Hilsha. Statistics available with the Department of Fisheries reveals that the annual demand of Hilsha in the country is about three lakh metric tones, against the production of two and a half lakh metric tones a year, resulting a deficit of 50,000 metric tones. The BFFEA leaders said some 2,500 tones of Hilsha are exported to Europe and America, while 65,000-70,000 tones of Hilsha are exported to India every year. A hilsha weighing about one kilogram is exported at Tk 350. But, a Hilsha weighing one kilogram is sold at Tk 800-1,000 in local markets.

The government has decided to suspend the export of Hilsha for the next six months to bring down its prices in local markets. But, the exporters think that the government's move will have a very little impact on the prices of Hilsha in local markets.


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