Traders dealing on dry fruits said prices have increased mainly due to irregular supplies from source market and rise in transportation cost. [break]
“We are heavily dependent on import to fulfill demand for dry fruits in the market. Any change in price in international market will affect prices in the local market,” said Prayag Tuladhar of Bhawani Stores at Makhan.
According to Tuladhar, prices of dry fruits such as cashew nut, walnut, date, almond, pistachio, cardamom, clove and betel nut have increased in the wholesale market.
Wholesale price of walnuts has increased to Rs 290 per kg, up from last month´s Rs 250 per kg, while pistachio nuts have become dearer by Rs 90 per kg and selling at Rs 890 per kg. Similarly, price of almond has increased to Rs 790 per kg, up from last month´s Rs 700 per kg in the wholesale market.
Small betel nuts have become dearer by Rs 50 per kg and are selling at Rs 150 per kg, while big betel nuts are selling at Rs 200 per kg, up from last month´s Rs 150 per kg. Likewise, cashew nuts have become dearer by Rs 100 per kg and are selling at Rs 1,000 per kg. Prices of clove and cardamom have increased by Rs 100 and Rs 200 per kg to Rs 2,100 and Rs 2,700 per kg respectively.
“Prices of dry fruits have increased in the retail market because our suppliers have raised prices citing hike in transportation cost,” Sujit Sthapit, a wholesaler of dry fruits and spices at Makhan.
Demand for dry fruits has dropped at the moment because its consumption peaks during major festivals like Dashain and Tihar.
Traders import betel nuts from India and China, while others dry fruits come from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran and the United States.
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