Ice prices soar, raising hilsa preservation costs
Photo: Agamir Somoy
During the peak hilsa season, the price of ice has surged several times over, impacting both wholesale and retail fish markets. Fish traders allege that a syndicate of merchants is capitalizing on the heightened demand to artificially manufacture an ice crisis. Ice blocks previously sold for Tk150–200 are now fetching Tk 400–800. Consequently, fish preservation expenditures have escalated, ultimately driving up retail fish prices.
During the new moon and full moon high tides, catches of hilsa and other marine fish increase significantly. Commission agents at Fishery Ghat and Rani Rasmoni Ghat confirmed that fish catches have risen during the current new moon tide. Numerous trawlers and boats are returning simultaneously from the sea laden with hilsa. Traders emphasize that ice is indispensable for preserving freshness, noting that the simultaneous arrival of large catches causes ice demand to multiply. Without adequate ice, fish risk spoilage—an opportunity that opportunistic sellers have exploited to inflate prices.
As a result, commission agents and retail fish vendors across various markets are forced to purchase ice at inflated rates. Kabir Hossain, a fish vendor at Kazir Dewri Market, explained that whenever hilsa catches swell during lunar tides, ice demand surges, prompting vendors to raise prices.
Another fish vendor noted that half-quarter ice blocks previously cost Tk 150, whereas the same quantity now costs Tk500–600. He alleged that ice plant owners seek to generate an entire year's profit within a single season whenever sea catches peak, directly affecting fish pricing.
He added that many ice blocks contain hollow centers, reducing their actual weight and leaving buyers with insufficient ice despite paying higher prices. Concerns over high preservation costs have led many retail vendors to purchase less fish than usual.
However, ice plant owners maintain that rising production costs—not merely high demand—are driving price increases, pointing to power shortages as a major factor.
Saifuddin Ahmed, owner of Safars Ice Plant on Batali Road in Enayet Bazar, Chittagong, said that their business operates for only six months a year, remaining closed or limited for the rest. Despite months without revenue, overhead expenses—including VAT, income tax, employee salaries, and rising electricity bills—continue year-round. He noted that prices rise slightly during peak hilsa season due to demand spikes. He added that factories do not sell directly to retail markets, selling instead at Tk 200, 250, and Tk300 per block at the factory gate, which then passes through multiple intermediaries before reaching end users.
Traders contend that despite the surge of fish at the landings during peak season, ice supply has failed to keep pace, creating a shortage. Intermediaries and syndicates exploit this gap across multiple transaction stages to markup prices, driving up fish preservation costs. Ultimately, these added expenses are passed on to retail fish prices, impacting general consumers directly.
