Around 5,000 tonnes of chickpeas have been imported through Hili Land Port in Dinajpur in the last 25 days. The commodity has already touched the local market. The imports of this things is still remain duty-free.
Besides, despite the increased imports, prices have not dropped as expected due to the high demand ahead of Ramadan, sources claimed.
Revenue Officer of Hili Land Customs Station Shafiul Islam, said that between the 1st and 25th of the current month, 5,500 tonnes of chickpeas arrived via 150 trucks. The imported chickpeas are being swiftly processed through quality checks and customs procedures for immediate clearance.
Officials of the port said, as there is no duty on chickpea imports, traders have significantly ramped up import volumes. The officials added that import volumes have increased significantly ahead of Ramadan.
According to sources, previously, only two to three trucks of chickpeas were imported through Hili Port. The number has now surged to 20-25 trucks per day. A significant portion of the imports is being sold directly from the port over the rising demand.
According to port traders, previously, wholesale (truck sale) prices at the port were Tk 98-99 per kg, but the prices have now dropped to Tk 94 per kg.
However, despite the price drop, traders remain concerned. They predict that as Ramadan approaches, demand will continue to rise, which could create market instability.
Shahed Hossain, a trader from Narayanganj, highlighted that chickpea demand is increasing in various wholesale markets across the country, prompting him to come to Hili to purchase the commodity.
Observing different markets, he noted that retail prices range from Tk 105 to Tk 120 per kg in Chattogram’s Agrabad, Kazir Dewri, Kalurghat, and several other markets.
Traders at Hili Land Port noted that the global booking price for chickpeas currently stands at $620 to $640 per tonne. Given that chickpeas and other pulse imports remain duty-free, domestic prices are expected to decrease further. However, due to prolonged high prices, market stabilization is taking time.
Wholesale traders believe that Indian-imported chickpeas should not exceed Tk 80 per kg in Bangladesh.
Additionally, a significant portion of the imported chickpeas has yet to reach the retail market from wholesalers, preventing prices from dropping to the desired level. Wholesale traders and trading firms estimate that if supply increases, chickpea prices could decrease by another Tk 10-12 per kg.
When contacted, Hili Land Port importer Mostafizur Rahman said that traders are maintaining a steady flow of chickpea imports from India to ensure price stability. He also noted that banks are providing Letters of Credit (LCs) as per importers’ demands, facilitating smooth transactions.
He further predicted that with the current pace of imports, the volume is likely to increase in the coming weeks, reducing concerns over price hikes during Ramadan.
No Imports through Benapole Port This Year/
Meanwhile, Benapole Port has yet to record any chickpea imports this year.
In contrast, in March of last year, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) imported 2,000 tonnes of chickpeas through Benapole. At that time, the import price was Tk 85 per kg, and TCB sold the product at Tk 55 per kg to stabilize the market.