Mumbai: The transportation impasse that has halted exports to the Middle East is affecting prices of essential food items in Mumbai. Eggs are marginally cheaper in the wholesale market owing to thwarted exports. Meanwhile, edible oil costs are rising as imports have dwindled.Unlike wholesale prices though, the retail rate of eggs has not decreased correspondingly. TOI spoke to retailers citywide and found them still charging Rs 66-80 per dozen. Only the rate in Borivli-Dahisar was Rs 60 Tuesday. An egg store in Kalyan reduced rates from Rs 160 for two dozen to Rs 150 this week. Local shops continued to charge Rs 6.50-7 apiece. Navi Mumbai buyers continued to pay Rs 70-75 per dozen, only slightly lower than the earlier Rs 75-80. Traders said demand had weakened coupled with disruption in LPG supply, leading eateries to stop serving boiled eggs.Abdullah Hanif Dhaga of Isa Egg Mart, Jogeshwari, said, “Export of eggs to the Middle East has stopped owing to the war. So the wholesale price has fallen from Rs 750 per 100 eggs to Rs 480. In fact, it fell to Rs 450 last week. Within a month and a half, the market is down by Rs 300.”Abdul Rahim of House of Eggs said, “Prices have also decreased due to change of climate and decrease in demand.”Altaf Ahmed Khan of Ahmed Eggs Merchant said, “Rates have reduced due to lower demand caused by the concurrent Ramzan and Lent fasts. There is less demand for eggs at breakfast. Plus, exports to the Gulf have halted, diverting more eggs to the local market. Also, several hotels and restaurants have closed due to the LPG crunch so consumption has fallen.”The onset of summer typically sees a fall in consumption, so prices tend to drop. The upcoming Chaitra Navratra March 19 will see more people avoid non-vegetarian food, shrinking demand further.Meanwhile, the price of edible oil is rising swiftly because imports are hampered by the Gulf war. Sunflower oil was Rs 15 costlier per litre while mustard oil climbed Rs 10. Blended oils too inched upward on online marketplaces from Rs 880 for a five litre can to Rs 1,000.Traders said prices rose as sunflower oil imports had suffered. Mumbai APMC grain market director Nilesh Veera said wholesale rates went up by Rs 5 per litre in the past few days, but then dropped slightly. “So the hike is now Rs 2-3 per litre which raises retail prices proportionately,” he said. He ruled out domestic shortages. Edible oils are sourced from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, and Nepal, not only conflict zones, said Veera.Wholesaler Bhimji Bhanushali said foodgrains, including basmati rice, are cheaper due to weaker exports and higher domestic availability. “We keep telling retailers not to create war hype since the prices of grains have remained constant,” said Bhanushali.
