Tomato shoots up to Rs 25 per kg

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The rates of tomatoes shot up in both the wholesale and the retail markets here from Rs 5 to Rs 25 per kg within last 10 days. Prices of some essential items eased further on the Lahore wholesale commodity markets during the preceding week as supply position showed improvement owing to steady arrivals from upcountry trading centres. However, dealers said release of fresh stocks by leading stock holders fearing further fall in prices was the main factor behind the fresh decline together with a considerable fall in consumer off-take.

However, prices of many essentials had shown gradual decline from the peak level hit during the last couple of weeks but were still higher as compared to their prices during the last couple of years, they said. "Prices of some essential items could ease modestly from their higher levels but there is no possibility of major fall at least in near-future as stockists will try to keep them on higher side after holding back ready stocks", said a leading broker. He said commodity markets over a year were in the grip of traders who traded in them daily but never allowed prices to fall from their pre-determined level.

Market sources said general consumers and retailers did enter the market on essential counters after each decline and covered in part their immediate needs before a rebound. The prices of tomatoes were settled from Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg, but it was being sold for Rs 22 to Rs 25 per kg. The market committee had fixed the retail rates of onions at Rs 10 to Rs 14 per kg, but the vendors were charging Rs 16 to Rs 20 per kg.

New potatoes were selling at Rs 24 to Rs 28 pr kg against the fixed rates of Rs 18 to Rs 23 per kg, while the rates of garlic (desi) was Rs 20 to Rs 28 per kg, garlic (China) Rs 22 to 30 per kg and ginger Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kg. The retail price of spinach hovered between Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kg and the market committee had fixed the rates at Rs 7 to Rs 9, while cucumbers were from Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg. The price fixed by the market committee for different varieties of apples ranged from Rs 40 to Rs 140 per kg, but they were available at Rs 65 to Rs 170 per kg. The price of watermelon ranged from Rs 10 to Rs 15 per kg and the different varieties of mangoes ranged from Rs 24 to Rs 45 per kg, but they were sold at Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kg.

The official prices of different varieties of strawberries were fixed from Rs 35 to Rs 56 per kg, while they were available between Rs 60 and Rs 80 per kg. The price of good-quality bananas was fixed at Rs 29 to Rs 54 per dozen, while they were selling from Rs 40 to Rs 65 per dozen. The ex-factory 100 kg sugar sack fixed at Rs 2,810, while the wholesale rate of 100 kg sugar bag settled at Rs 2,820 from Rs 2,840 per bag. However, the retailers were charging rates of Rs 28 to Rs 30 per kg for sugar in various parts of the city. The price of 20 kg flour bag of different brands ranged from Rs 400 to Rs 440,while the 10 kg flour bags was sold at Rs 220 to Rs 240 per bag of different brands. The price of good-quality basmati rice (old) ranged from Rs 95 to Rs 100 per kg of different brands. Similarly, the prices of low-quality ranged from Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kg, while broken rice was available from Rs 65 to Rs 70 per kg.

Various varieties of gram pulse were sold at Rs 56 to 60 per kg, while masoor pulse was available at Rs 112 to 120 per kg, while lentil pulse was available at Rs 90 to Rs 100 per kg. On the other hand, A-category 16 kg ghee tin settled at Rs 2,180, B-category 16 kg ghee tin was available at Rs 2,070 and C-category 16 kg ghee was sold at Rs 1,950. However, the retailers were charging Rs 110 to Rs 120 per kg for loose ghee, while poly bag ghee of different brands was sold from Rs 130 to Rs 165 per kg.