Malta prices hit Tk550 per kg in Ctg as supply tightens despite higher imports

Highlights:

The fruit, which sold for Tk300-320 per kg a month ago and Tk380-400 even a week ago, has risen by about 77% in a month and 41% in a week, according to retailers.

Traders claim Bangladesh’s daily demand is around 15-20 containers of malta, but only six to seven containers have been reaching the market each day over the past 10-15 days.

However, data from the Chattogram Plant Quarantine Centre show that imports have increased rather than declined.

In July and August this year, Bangladesh imported 25,666 tonnes of malta and oranges, compared with 20,886 tonnes in the same period last year, a rise of 4,780 tonnes or 22.9%.

Imports also increased substantially over the full 2025-26 fiscal year, reaching 1,98,995 tonnes against 1,51,570 tonnes the previous year, a rise of 31.3%. This was the highest level in four fiscal years.

Imports during January-June of FY2025-26 also rose nearly 30% year-on-year to 1,06,687 tonnes.

Importers cite earlier losses, shipping disruptions

Importers say the current supply pressure stems partly from earlier losses caused by over-importation, which led many traders to reduce shipments.

Fruit importer Omar Farooq Siddiqui told TBS that importers had previously brought in more malta than the market could absorb, causing prices to fall and resulting in heavy losses.

Losses averaged around Tk10 lakh per container in July and nearly Tk12 lakh in August, he said. As a result, many importers reduced or stopped bringing in larger quantities by August, affecting September supplies.

Importers also say delays at South Africa’s Durban port have compounded the problem. A shipment from Durban to Chattogram normally takes around 30 days, but ships are now facing lengthy delays entering the port and loading goods.

According to them, it can take nearly 15 days for a vessel to enter Durban, followed by another seven to eight days to load and leave. Congestion at transit ports such as Singapore and Colombo has also increased amid disruptions linked to the Middle East crisis.

Instead of the usual one or two days, some vessels are now waiting 10-15 days at alternative transit ports, importers said.

Dengue boosts demand

Rising dengue infections have also increased demand for maltas and other fruits among patients and their relatives.

Chattogram recorded 2,031 dengue cases and 14 deaths in the first 26 days of September, compared with 1,202 cases and two deaths throughout August, according to the Chattogram Civil Surgeon’s Office.

Meanwhile, at Chattogram’s main wholesale fruit market Folmandi, a 15kg case of malta was selling for Tk7,400-7,800.

Retailers said supply had become particularly tight around hospitals. At Kazi Deuri Market, malta and oranges were selling for Tk550 per kg, while a seller near Chattogram Medical College Hospital initially asked Tk580 and sold it for Tk550.

Fruit seller Abdul Halim said higher wholesale prices were forcing retailers to raise prices despite concerns that customers were buying less.

Mohammad Shahin, another seller near the hospital, said malta had been unavailable for several days. Customers who previously bought small quantities were now reducing their purchases because of the higher price.

Fruit importer Nazim Uddin said prices would fall once new shipments entered the market, although traders holding expensive stocks could incur losses if prices subsequently declined.

Muhammad Tauhidul Alam, general secretary of the Chattogram Fruit Traders Association, said traders had reduced imports after prices fell during a period of over-importation.

He said a large number of letters of credit had now been opened and supply should normalise within 15-20 days as new shipments arrive.

Concerns over artificial price hike

Consumers Association of Bangladesh Central Vice-President SM Nazer Hossain alleged that some traders were exploiting increased demand for malta during the dengue surge to create an artificial shortage and raise prices.

The government, earlier in March, reduced duties on fresh fruit imports with the expectation that malta prices would fall, but prices had instead increased.

He called for stronger monitoring by the National Board of Revenue and other relevant agencies to determine whether consumers were receiving the benefit of the duty reduction and to take action against traders creating artificial shortages.