Bangladesh: Rice prices rise as fuel costs push up retail rates

• Retail rice prices rise by Tk 1-3/kg amid higher transport costs
• Mill gate prices mixed, some mills raise rates by Tk 50/bag

Retail rice prices in Bangladesh have increased following higher fuel and transportation costs, with prices of fine, medium and coarse varieties rising by Tk 1-3 per kg in Dhaka’s retail markets. Higher paddy procurement costs have also contributed to price increases at some mills, although mill-gate trends remain uneven across regions.

Miniket and Nazirshail rice prices strengthen

Miniket rice is selling at Tk 68-76 per kg, while major brands, including Desh Agro, Diamond, Manzur and Sagar, are priced at Tk 74-75 per kg, up from around Tk 72 a week earlier. Rashid-brand Miniket rice has increased by Tk 2 to Tk 75 per kg. Nazirshail rice prices have risen by Tk 2–3 over the past two weeks to Tk 70-95 per kg, depending on quality.

Coarse rice prices have increased to Tk 50-54 per kg from Tk 48-52, while medium varieties such as BR-28 and Pajam are selling at Tk 58-64 per kg. The increase across multiple rice varieties indicates broader retail price pressure rather than gains limited to premium grades.

Mill gate prices show regional differences

Mill gate prices have not increased uniformly and remained stable over the past month. In contrast, an automatic rice mill in Kushtia district raised prices by Tk 50 per bag, citing higher transportation expenses and paddy prices.

At Dhaka’s Jatrabari market, a bag of Pajam rice increased by Tk 50 to Tk 3,050 from Tk 3,000. The divergence between stable and higher mill-gate prices suggests that the impact of rising costs varies by location and procurement conditions.

Outlook

Retail rice prices in Bangladesh may remain firm in the near term if fuel and transportation costs stay elevated. Further increases in paddy procurement prices or mill-gate rates could add to retail prices, while stable mill-gate quotations may limit the pace of further increases.

For rice traders, the key factors to watch are paddy procurement costs, transportation expenses and changes in mill-gate prices. Higher retail prices alone do not establish improved margins for rice mills or stronger export competitiveness, as the effect will depend on how costs are distributed across the supply chain.