Date imports rise 6.32pc

Bangladesh imported 42,931 tonnes of dates—a popular iftar item—in the last four months, up 6.32 percent year-on-year thanks to the increasing consumption of the fruit.

The eating habit of people has changed in the recent years as health conscious people now consume dates round the year, said Faruq Ahmed, a date importer based in Khatunganj.

It was a common trend in the past to see a rise in the demand of the fruit during Ramadan only, Ahmed said.

Dates of different varieties with prices ranging from Tk 75 a kilogramme to Tk 2,800 a kg are now found in roadside iftar stalls, retail kitchen markets as well as the super shops.

This year, dates have been imported from the highest 17 countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Tunisia, Algeria and Palestine.

In the last four months to April, 20, around 740 tonnes of dates—the highest—have been imported from the UAE.

The second highest amount of dates came from Algeria -- 14,509 tonnes. Around 3,315 tonnes came from Iraq and 3,165 tonnes from Saudi Arabia.

Zahidi brand of dates imported from Iraq are the cheapest. Before the beginning of Ramadan, low quality Zahidi dates were sold at Tk 70 a kg and the higher quality at Tk 100 a kg in Khatunganj wholesale market.

Dates of the two categories are now sold at Tk 75 and Tk 120 a kg respectively, industry insiders say.